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BX  9225  .R5  M3  1835 
Maxwell,  William,  1784-1857 
A  memoir  of  the  Rev.  John  H 
Rice,  D.D.,  first  professo 


''riar/jWd  h'AJinr/ 


MEMOIR 


REV.  JOHN  H.  RICE,  D.D. 


Fir.,  rrofe^so.  of  Cbri,.ia„  TbeoloE,  in  Uaian  Theological  Seminar,,  Vi 


Virginia. 


BY  WILLIAM  MAXWELL. 


PHILADELPHIA : 

PUBLISHED   BY    J.    WHETHAM 

Richmond:— R.  I.  SMITH. 

1835. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congvess,  in  the  year  1835,  by  William 
Maxwell,  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  Vii-ginia. 


PREFACE. 


In  preparing  the  following  pages  for  the  press, 
I  have  honestly  endeavoured  to  give  a  fair  and 
faithful  account,  as  far  as  it  goes,  of  the  eminent 
and  excellent  man  whose  memoir  I  have  under- 
taken to  write;  and  I  cannot  but  flatter  myself 
that  I  have  pursued  my  object  with  some  success. 
I  am  sensible,  indeed,  and  freely  acknowledge, 
that  my  ow  n  share  of  the  work  is  very  imperfect, 
and  by  no  means  what  I  could  have  wished  to 
make  it.  But  this  is  but  a  small  part  of  the  book, 
and  by  far  the  larger  portion  of  it  will  be  found 
to  consist  of  letters  of  the  deceased  himself, 
which,  I  am  confident,  will  be  read  with  great 
interest  by  all  who  can  appreciate  the  truly 
christian  character  which  they  display.  There 
are  many  persons,  too,  I  know,  not  only  in  our 
own  state,  but  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  who 
will  be  able  to  associate,  by  remembrance,  the 
voice,  and  look,  and  whole  manner  of  the  man 
whom  they  so  justly  admired  and  loved,  with 
these  effusions  of  his  pen;  and  such  will,  of 
course,  enjoy  them  still  more. 


PREFACE. 


The  letters,  it  will  be  seen,  are  many  of  them 
entirely  narrative,  giving  the  most  authentic  and 
minute  accounts  of  the  various  movements  of 
the  writer,  at  different  periods  of  his  life,  partic- 
ularly after  his  removal  to  Richmond,  and  dur- 
ing his  arduous  and  persevering  labours  in  es- 
tablishing the  Union  Theological  Seminary ;  and 
all  with  a  freshness  of  manner,  and  an  interest 
of  feeling,  which  no  one  but  the  actor  himself 
could  have  put  into  a  history  of  such  things. 
Others  are  purely  pastoral,  addressed  to  differ- 
ent members  of  his  flock  on  a  variety  of  occa- 
sions, and  well  calculated  to  interest  the  sympa- 
thies of  christian  hearts.  Others,  again,  are 
merely  friendly  ;  but  almost  as  various  as  the 
persons  whom  he  addressed,  and  exhibiting  his 
own  amiable  and  affectionate  spirit  in  the  most 
happy  manner.  And  all  contain  thoughts,  and 
sentiments,  and  remarks  upon  many  subjects, 
which  evince  superior  wisdom,  and  deserve,  as 
I  trust  they  will  receive,  the  serious  attention  of 
all  reflecting  minds.  I  may  add,  that  although 
they  were  almost  always  written  in  great  haste, 
and  on  the  spur  of  the  occasion,  and  without 
copying,  (for  I  have  had  to  thank  the  persons 
to  whom  they  were  sent,  or  their  friends,  for  the 
originals,  which  they  have  lent  me  for  this  ser- 
vice,) they  are  generally  well  written,  and  some 
of  them  very  pleasing  specimens  of  this  kind  of 
writing. 


PREFACE. 


In  availing  myself  of  the  aid  which  these  let- 
ters have  afforded  me  in  my  work,  I  have  hard- 
ly ever  stated  any  part  of  their  contents  before- 
hand; but  have  almost  invariably  left  them  to 
speak  for  themselves,  and  trusted  that  the  read- 
er would  be  able  to  follow  the  thread  of  the 
narrative  through  them,  (although  it  is  some- 
times mixed  up  with  other  matters,)  so  leaving 
the  writer  to   tell  his   own   story,   and   inter- 
posing myself,  only  now  and  then,  with  such  ad- 
ditional notices  as   were  necessary  to  supply 
omissions,  and  connect  the  parts  together.     In 
this  manner,  I  have  aimed  to  avoid  repetition, 
and  keep  the  narrative  always  moving.  It  is  true, 
however,  that  I  have  also  introduced  other  let- 
ters, according  to  their  dates,  which  do  not  con- 
tinue the  narrative,  and  so  rather  delay  the  rea- 
der's progress  a  little ;  but  then  it  is  always  to 
let  him  take  some  new  views  of  the  character  of 
the  pastor,  or  the  writer,  or  the  man ;  and,  in  this 
way,  I  give  him,  I  think,  a  fair  compensation  for 
stopping  him,  as  it  were,  for  a  while  on  the  road. 
In  copying  the  letters  for  the  press,  I  have 
freely  omitted  all  such  parts  as  I  deemed  imma- 
terial or  irrelevant  to  the  great  object  which  I 
have  had  in  view ;  (and,  by  the  way,  I  have  not 
thought  it  either  necessary  or  proper  to  mark 
the  places  of  the  omissions,  as  is  commonly  done, 
by  stars,  which  could  only  disfigure  the  page, 
without  doing  any  possible  good.)     At  the  same 


PREFACE. 


time,  I  have  retained  some  things  which  I  must 
confess  I  have  felt  strongly  tempted ''to  omit.  I 
allude  here  to  a  few  passages  which  appeared  to 
me  to  be  almost  too  private  to  be  displayed,  as  it 
were,  before  the  public ;  and  more  particularly 
to  some  parts  (or  indeed  the  whole)  of  the  let- 
ters to  myself,  which  I  have  felt  an  almost  invin- 
cible repugnance  to  edit,  in  this  way,  when  the 
act  might  seem  to  imply  an  "  avarice  of  air"  on 
my  part,  that  I  must  humbly  hope  is  really  no 
part  of  my  vein ;  but  I  have  believed  that  I  ought 
to  sacrifice  my  scruples  of  delicacy  on  these 
points,  to  the  duty  of  exhibiting  the  character  of 
my  subject  in  all  its  lights ;  and  I  shall  trust  the 
good  sense  and  charity  of  my  readers,  to  give 
me  credit  for  my  real  motives  in  the  proceeding. 
Although  my  business  in  this  work  has  been 
chiefly  that  of  a  mere  compiler,  I  confess  I  have 
felt  throughout  a  constant  and  oppressive  sense 
of  the  difficulty  and  delicacy  of  the  task  which 
(from  some  special  considerations)  I  have 
undertaken;  and  of  my  incompetency  to  per- 
form it  in  a  proper  manner.  I  have  consoled 
myself,  however,  with  the  hope  that  my  mate- 
rials are  many  of  them  of  such  intrinsic  worth, 
that  if  I  have  failed  to  display  them  in  the  best 
lights,  I  have  yet  not  destroyed  their  value; 
and  the  letters,  particularly,  I  must  regard  as 
gems  which  will  shine  by  their  own  lustre,  in 
whatever  matter  they  are  set. 


PREFACE.  vii 


In  this  confidence,  I  have  only  to  commend  the 
work  to  the  favour  of  the  christian  pubUc,  and, 
above  all,  to  the  blessing  of  that  gracious  Being 
who  accepts  the  smallest  services  of  those  who 
wish  to  please  him,  and  to  promote  his  cause  in 
the  world. 

Norfolk,  August  2Qth,  1835. 


MEMOIR. 


John  Holt  Rice,  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Catharine 
Rice,  was  born  near  New  London,  in  the  county  of  Bed- 
ford, in  the  state  of  Virginia,  on  the  28th  of  November, 
A.D.  1777. 

His  father,  Benjamin  Rice,  was  a  lawyer  by  profession, 
and  had  been,  for  some  time,  acting  as  deputy  to  Mr. 
Steptoe,  the  clerk  of  the  court,  who  allowed  him  a  small 
salary  of  eighty  pounds  a  year  for  his  services  in  the  office. 
He  was  a  shrewd,  sensible  man,  of  a  frank  and  sociable 
disposition,  and  had  a  natural  vein  of  humour  and  pleas- 
antry that  made  him  a  very  agreeable  companion.  He 
was,  moreover,  a  zealous  professor  of  religion,  and  a  ruling 
elder  in  the  Peak  and  Pisgah  congregations,  of  which  his 
brother,  David  Rice,  afterwards  called  the  Apostle  of  Ken- 
tucky, was  then  pastor. 

His  mother,  w^hose  maiden  name  was  Catharine  Holt, 
was  a  relative  (perhaps  a  cousin,)  of  the  wife  of  the  cele- 
brated Samuel  Davies,  the  father  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  Virginia ;  within  the  bounds  of  one  of  whose  congrega- 
tions, in  the  county  of  Hanover,  she  was  born,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  she  married,  and  afterwards  removed 
with  her  husband  to  the  county  of  Bedford.  She  was  a 
woman  of  cultivated  mind,  gentle  disposition,  and  exem- 
plary piety,  fondly  attached  to  her  husband,  and  truly  de- 
voted to  her  children. 

At  the  time  of  his  birth,  his  parents  were  living  in  a 
small  but  comfortable  dwelling-house,  not  far  from  New 
London,  with  a  few  acres  of  land  attached  to  it,  being  only 

2 


<i  MEMOIR     OF 

part  of  a  larger  tract,  which  belonged  to  his  mother's  bro- 
ther, the  Rev.  John  White  Holt,  a  pious  and  intelligent 
clergyman  of  the  church  of  England,  after  whom  he  was 
named.  Their  circumstances  were  moderate,  but  respect- 
able ;  such  as  placed  them  on  a  footing  of  easy  intercourse 
with  all  the  best  society,  while  their  gentle  virtues  and 
pleasing  manners  gained  them  the  friendly  regard  and 
esteem  of  all  who  knew  them. 

John  was  the  second  son,  and  third  child  of  his  parents, 
who,  at  the  time  of  his  birth,  had  an  older  daughter  named 
Edith,  and  an  older  son  named  David,  and  after  that  event, 
had  a  second  daughter  named  Sarah,  a  third  son  named 
Benjamin,  and  a  last  daughter  and  child  named  Elizabeth, 
all  of  whom  are  still  living. 

John  was  at  first,  and  for  some  time  after  his  birth,  a 
weakly  and  unpromising  child,  and  was  indeed  hardly  ex- 
pected to  live.  He  was,  however,  only  nursed  with  the 
more  care  by  his  excellent  mother,  who  watched  over  his 
cradle  with  great  anxiety,  and  offered  up  many  prayers  to 
God  for  him. 

When  he  was  about  two  years  old,  he  had  a  long  and 
dangerous   sickness,  and  at   one  time  was  thought  to  be 
actually  dying.     He  was,  accordingly,  taken  up  out  of  his 
cradle,  and  laid  upon  the  bed  to  expire  with  more   ease, 
while  his  poor  mother  and  good  Parson  Holt  stood  looking 
on,  commending  him  to  God,  and  expecting  every  moment 
to  see  him  draw  his  last  breath.     Contrary,  however,  to  all 
appearances,  he  revived,  and  began  to  recover  in  a  manner' 
so  truly  surprising,  that  the  pious  minister  warmly  declared^ 
that   he   was    satisfied  that  Divine  Providence    must  have 
some  great  work  for  the  child  to  perform,  and  earnestly j 
charged  his  mother  to  begin  to  train  him  up  for  it  betimes ; 
promising  her  that  he  would  himself  assist  her  in  educating 
him  for  his  task.     After  this,  his  mother  very  naturally  re- 
garded him  with  new  interest,  and  watched  the  first  open- 


I 


DOCTOR     RICE.  3 

ings  of  his  mind  with  great  solicitude,  already  consecrating 
him,  in  her  heart,  to  the  service  of  his  Master,  and  giving 
him,  like  another  Samuel,  to  the  Lord. 

About  this  time,  or  shortly  afterwards,  there  was  living 
in  the  family  a  brother  of  her  husband,  named  William 
Rice,  who  was  teaching  a  small  school  in  a  place  called 
Coffee's  Old  Field.  This  good  man  was  very  fond  of  the 
delicate  child,  and  would  often  take  him  up  in  his  arms,  to 
nurse  and  pet  him  in  his  leisure  moments.  Sometimes, 
too,  as  the  little  fellow  would  follow  him  out  of  the  house, 
he  would  carry  him  along  with  him  to  the  school,  and  to 
amuse  him  by  the  way,  would  teach  him  to  call  the  letters 
of  the  alphabet,  and  afterwards  to  spell  words  of  one  or 
two  syllables,  without  the  book.  Finding  him  very  apt  to 
catch  learning  in  this  way,  he  prevailed  on  his  father  to  let 
him  teach  him  in  the  usual  manner,  and  though  his  father 
thought  at  first  that  he  was  quite  too  young  to  be 
taught  any  thing,  he  was  soon  agreeably  surprised  to  find 
that  he  could  spell,  and  even  read,  much  better  than  many 
who  were  a  good  deal  older,  and  the  fond  parent  from  that 
moment  determined,  as  he  said,  that  he  would  give  that 
child  a  good  education  at  all  events. 

The  boy's  passion  for  books  was  now  decided,  and 
before  he  was  four  years  old,  he  had  read  a  good  part  of 
the  Bible,  and  all  Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns ;  and  his 
great  delight  was  to  sit  on  his  little  cricket  at  his  mother's 
knee,  and  repeat  some  of  those  pious  verses  to  her,  as  it 
seems  he  was  already  passionately  fond  of  poetry,  or,  at 
least,  of  rhymes. 

About  this  time,  or  perhaps  after  he  was  a  little  older,  his 
devotion  to  his  uncle  Holt  made  him  very  attentive  to  all  that 
that  worthy  man  said  and  did ;  and  as  he  had  sometimes 
heard  him  read  the  morning  service  from  the  book  of  Com- 
mon Prayer,  the  imitative  boy  would  draw  a  congregation  of 
children,  white  and  black,  about  him,  and  give  out  some 


4  MEMOIROF 

parts  of  it  to  them  in  a  very  solemn  manner ;  telling  them 
that  when  he  grew  up  to  be  a  man,  he  would  be  a  preacher 
too. 

Some  time  after  this,  when  he  was  about  eight  years  old, 
the  county  of  Campbell  having  been  taken  off  from  that  of 
Bedford,  by  an  act  of  Assembly,  and  the  court  house  of  the 
latter  established  in  the  small  town  of  Liberty,  his  father  re- 
moved to  another  house  near  that  place,  and  sent  him  to 
school  to  his  uncle  Parson  Holt,  who  had  gone  up  into  the 
county  of  Botetourt,  and  there  opened  a  school  for  boys ; 
and  who  now  readily  took  his  young  nephew  into  his  house, 
to  educate  him  according  to  his  promise.  Here  he  made 
some  further  progress  in  his  English  studies,  and  began  to 
learn  Latin;  but  his  uncle's  health  soon  failing,  and  compel- 
ling him  to  give  up  his  school,  he  returned  to  his  father's 
after  about  a  year's  absence,  and  was  sent  to  another  teacher, 
the  Rev.  James  Mitchell,  a  very  worthy  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, who  is  still  living  in  a  good  old  age  to  enjoy  the  reputa- 
tion of  his  pupil.  After  this,  he  lived  at  home  again  with 
his  parents  for  some  time,  going  to  school  to  two  or  three 
different  masters  successively,  whose  names  are  forgotten. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  serious  impressions  of  religion  which 
he  had  derived  from  his  parents  and  others  about  him,  had 
been  greatly  increased,  and  on  returning  home  to  live,  we 
are  told  that  he  opened  a  little  private  prayer  meeting  with 
his  elder  sister  and  brother,  in  which  he  led  the  exercises 
himself.  At  this  time,  too,  we  are  assured  that  he  gave 
strong  evidence  that  he  had  already  experienced  a  real  change 
of  heart,  and  had  become  a  true  disciple  of  Christ,  by  his 
pious  conversation,  and  by  his  good  behaviour  in  all  res- 
pects. He  was  indeed  remarkable  at  this  early  age,  more 
particularly,  for  his  considerate  and  affectionate  conduct 
towards  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  for  his  peculiar  devo- 
tion to  his  excellent  mother,  whom  he  loved  with  a  most  filial 
and  confiding  attachment.     Accordingly,  he  would  go  to  her 


DOCTORRICE.  O 

in  all  his  little  troubles  and  trials,  tell  her  his  sorrows,  and 
receive  her  counsels  with  a  listening  ear,  and  with  a  fixed 
purpose  to  mind  them.  One  piece  of  advice  especially, 
which  she  earnestly  pressed  upon  him, — to  govern  his  tem- 
per (which  it  seems  was  apt  to  break  out  into  anger  at 
times,)  and  to  bear  all  things  with  christian  patience  and 
meekness, — we  are  told,  made  a  deep  impression  upon  his 
mind,  and  produced  a  lasting  and  most  happy  effect  upon  his 
character. 

When  he  was  little  more  than  twelve  years  old,  he  expe- 
rienced a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  this  fond  and  faithful  pa- 
rent, whom  he  lamented  with  the  most  lively  sorrow.  After 
some  time,  however,  he  found  much  consolation  in  the  kind 
attention  of  his  father  which  was  now  very  naturally  increased, 
and  in  the  tender  love  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  more 
particularly  of  his  sister  Edith,  who  was  a  little  older  than 
himself,  and  now  took  the  chief  care  of  the  family  upon  her ; 
and,  after  shedding  many  tears,  he  became  gradually  resign- 
ed to  the  will  of  God.  Still  he  could  not  help  feeling  that  it 
was  not  as  it  had  been  while  his  motlier  was  living.  His 
father,  who  was  but  a  bad  manager,  was  now  a  poor  man, 
without  slaves  to  work  for  him,  and  with  only  his  small 
salary  as  deputy  clerk  to  support  his  young  family.  They 
were,  of  course,  obliged  to  help  themselves  as  well  as  they 
could,  and  the  hardships  which  he  saw  his  brothers  and  sis- 
ters suffering,  much  more  than  his  own,  greatly  affected  him. 
He  was,  more  particularly,  grieved  to  see  the  toils  of  his 
sister  Edith,  who,  as  the  oldest  of  them,  had  to  do  all  the 
hard  work  of  the  house ;  and,  to  lighten  her  burden,  he 
would  often  help  her  to  milk  the  cows,  wash  the  clothes, 
and  scour  and  rub  the  floors  ;  feeling  himself,  however,  well 
paid  for  all  his  pains  when  she  would  call  him  her  good 
brother,  and  thank  him  for  aiding  her  in  this  way. 

But  something  worse  than  all  this  was  yet  to  come  upon 
him  ;  for,  after  some  time,  his  father  thought  proper  to  marry 


6  MEMOIROF 

again,  and  took  for  his  wife  a  Mrs.  Henry,  the  widow  of 
Mr.  John  Henry,  (a  brother  of  the  famous  Patrick,)  who  had 
a  small  fortune  of  some  ten  or  twelve  slaves,  besides  some 
other  property,  of  no  great  value,  but  which  was  probably 
the  chief  motive  to  the  match;  This  brought  a  stranger 
into  the  house,  and  one  whom  our  young  boy  soon  found 
to  be  very  badly  qualified  to  fill  the  place  of  his  mother. 
The  new  Mrs.  Rice,  we  are  told,  was  a  woman  of  proud 
spirit  and  bad  temper,  who  had  never  had  any  children  of 
her  own,  and  could  not  find  it  in  her  heart  to  feel  any  thing 
like  fondness  for  those  of  another  person.  Indeed,  it  is  even 
said  that  she  was  jealous  of  the  attentions  which  their  own 
father  paid  them,  and  was  always  upon  the  watch  to  see  that 
he  did  not  waste  any  of  her  estate  upon  his  family.  At  the 
same  time,  she  was  most  perversely  disposed  to  treat  them 
all  with  great  rigour,  and  particularly  our  boy,  whom  she 
strongly  suspected  of  being  his  father's  favourite,  and  whom 
she  was  anxious  to  drive  to  a  trade,  which  she  thought  would 
be  quite  good  enough  for  him.  In  this  spirit,  we  are  in- 
formed that  on  his  coming  home  from  school  at  night,  she 
would  set  him  down  to  his  regular  task  of  picking  cotton, 
and  then  send  him  up  to  his  room  to  go  to  bed  without  a 
candle.  Such,  however,  was  already  his  passion  for  books, 
that  he  would  then  draw  out  the  little  pieces  of  lightwood 
which  he  had  got  unknown  to  her,  and  hid  away  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  when  she  thought  that  he  was  fast  asleep,  he  would 
be  reading  his  Horace  by  the  blaze.  Sometimes,  too,  when 
his  lightwood  had  given  out,  he  would  go  on  reading  by  the 
fire  alone,  going  down  upon  his  knees,  and  supporting  his 
head  by  his  hands  and  elbows,  with  his  book  open  before 
him  on  the  hearth,  till  he  would  almost  singe  his  hair  in 
the  act. 

This  was  certainly  a  hard  lot  for  such  a  boy  to  bear. 
It  is  not  improbable,  however,  that  the  harsh  treatment 
which  he  suffered  from  his  mother-in-law,  had  some  happy 


DOCTORRICE.  7 

effect  in  deepening  his  early  impressions  of  religion,  for  it 
appears  that  some  time  afterwards,  having  attained  perhaps 
his  fifteenth  year,  he  thought  proper  to  make  a  public  pro- 
fession of  faith  ;  and,  accordingly,  partook  of  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  neighbouring  church,  for  the 
first  time. 

Shortly  after  this,  his  father,  who  was  still  bent  upon 
giving  him  something  like  a  liberal  education,  raised  all  the 
little  money  he  could  spare  from  his  small  income,  and 
sent  him  off  to  Liberty  Hall  Academy,  (which  was  after- 
wards enlarged  into  Washington  College,)  in  the  town  of 
Lexington,  beyond  the  Blue  Ridge.  Here  he  found  him- 
self in  a  new  scene,  and  one  which  we  may  suppose  was 
much  more  favourable  for  the  prosecution  of  his  studies ; 
for  the  Rev.  William  Graham,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  of 
distinguished  talents,  was  at  that  time  president  of  the 
academy,  and  a  lad  of  young  Rice's  genius  could  hardly 
help  catching  some  improvement  from  the  preaching  and 
occasional  lessons  of  such  a  master,  and  his  able  assistants. 
Unhappily,  however,  he  had  not  yet  acquired  a  habit  of 
close  and  constant  application,  and,  of  course,  was  not 
much  distinguished  in  his  classical  studies.  Still  he  was 
by  no  means  idle ;  but  devoted  a  good  deal  of  time  to  mis- 
cellaneous reading,  which  was  both  useful  and  agreeable ; 
and  his  moral  deportment  was  entirely  correct.* 

He  had  continued  at  Liberty  Hall  about  a  year  and  a 
half,  and  his  father  who  could  not  afford  to  keep  him  any 
longer  abroad,  was  about  to  take  him  home,  when  Mr. 
Baxter,  a  young  gentleman  of  worth  and  talents,  who  had 
been  a  student  of  the  same  seminary,  and  was  now  teach- 
ing an  academy  for  boys  at  New  London,  learning  Mr. 
Rice's  intention,  and  having  heard,  as  he  tells  me,  a  good 

*  This  is  the  substance  of  a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  Mr. 
Edward  Graham,  (a  brother  of  the  Rev.  William  Graham,)  who  was  a 
teacher  in  the  academy  at  the  time. 


«  MEMOIROF 

account  of  the  lad's  character,  on  his  occasional  visits  to 
Lexington,  sent  him  a  kind  and  generous  invitation  to  come 
and  pursue  his  studies  freely  with  him.  He  came  accord- 
ingly without  delay,  and  being  placed  at  once  on  the  most 
friendly  footing  with  his  preceptor,  and  boarding  at  the 
same  house  with  him,  he  not  only  recited  to  him  as  his 
master  in  the  school,  but  also  read  with  him  as  his  com- 
panion in  leisure  hours,  in  the  pages  of  Swift,  Addison, 
Pope,  Shakspeare,  and  other  standard  writers.  At  this 
period,  my  informant  says,  he  showed  great  fondness  for 
using  his  pen,  and  frequently  amused  himself  with  writing 
small  pieces  for  the  school  boys  to  speak,  and  little  essays 
after  the  manner  of  his  favourite  authors,  which  evinced 
uncommon  proficiency  for  one  of  his  age.  At  the  same 
time,  his  conduct  was  uniformly  proper  and  becoming.  In 
company,  indeed,  he  was  usually  silent  and  reserved,  but 
he  sometimes  talked  upon  moral  and  literary  topics,  with 
much  good  sense ;  and,  upon  the  whole,  appeared  to  his 
friend  and  preceptor  to  be  a  pious  and  promising  youth.* 

After  improving  himself  in  this  manner  for  about  a  year 
and  a  half,  and  being  now  in  his  eighteenth  year,  he  was 
most  unexpectedly  called  to  make  his  debut  in  life,  in  the 
character  of  a  teacher.  The  late  judge  William  Nelson,  it 
seems,  who  was  attending  the  session  of  the  District  Court 
in  New  London  at  this  time,  had  been  requested  by  his 
kinsman,  Mr.  Nelson  of  Malvern  Hills,  (a  seat  on  James 
River,  about  thirty  miles  below  Richmond,)  to  find  some 
suitable  person  for  him  to  take  charge  of  a  small  family 
school,  which  he  wished  to  open  in  his  house ;  and  the 
judge,  having  heard  a  good  account  of  him,  applied  to 
young  Rice,  who,  with  the  consent  of  his  father,  and  by 

*  The  Mr.  Baxter  mentioned  above  is  the  Rev.  George  A.  Bax- 
ter, D.  D.,  wlio  was  afterwards  President  of  Washington  College  for 
some  years,  and  is  now  Professor  of  Christian  Theology  in  Union 
Theological  Seminary,  having  succeeded  his  former  pupil  in  the 
Chair. 


DOCTORRICE.  9 

the  advice  of  Mr.  Baxter,  readily  agreed  to  undertake  the 
duty,  and  began  to  prepare,  accordingly,  to  set  out  for  Mr. 
Nelson's  as  soon  as  possible.  At  this  point,  we  are  told 
that  his  father  introduced  him  one  day  in  the  court  yard,  to 
the  celebrated  Patrick  Henry,  (who  was  there  attending  the 
court  as  counsel  in  some  cause  or  other,)  saying,  "  Here, 
Mr.  Henry,  is  my  young  son  who  is  about  to  set  out  in  a 
few  days  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  world," — when  the 
orator  took  him  at  once,  most  kindly,  by  the  hand,  and 
told  him  in  his  frank  and  hearty  way,  to  be  of  good 
courage,  and  "be  sure,  my  son,"  said  he,  "  and  remember 
that  the  best  men  always  make  themselves ;"  a  sentence, 
which,  falling  from  such  a  man,  we  are  told,  made  a  deep 
impression  upon  his  mind,  and  often  recurred  to  his  recol- 
lection, to  rally  his  resolution,  and  stimulate  his  diligence, 
when  he  found  himself  tempted  to  indulge  his  besetting 
sin  of  indolence.  Shortly  afterwards,  our  young  adven- 
turer set  out  for  Mr.  Nelson's,  with  only  a  handkerchief 
full  of  clothes  in  his  hand  for  all  his  baggage,  and  just  ten 
and  six-pence  in  his  pocket,  which  his  father  had  given 
him  for  his  outfit ;  and  commending  himself,  no  doubt,  in 
prayer  to  the  God  of  Jacob,  walked  down  to  the  river, 
where  he  stepped  into  a  boat  for  Richmond,  and  thence 
repaired  to  Malvern  Hills. 

Here  he  found  himself  in  the  bosom  of  a  polished  and 
amiable  family,  and  at  the  head  of  a  small  school  consisting 
of  the  children  of  Mr.  Nelson,  and  those  of  some  of  his 
neighbours,  whom  he  taught  for  some  time  with  great 
industry,  and  with  good  success.  At  the  same  time,  his 
conduct  in  other  respects,  was  entirely  correct,  at  least  in 
the  eyes  of  those  about  him.  Indeed,  I  am  informed  by  a 
young  gentleman  of  that  neighbourhood,  who  is  intimately 
acquainted  with  the  surviving  members  of  Mr.  Nelson's 
family,  that  he  has  often  heard  them  say,  that  the  whole 
deportment  of  our  youth  while  he  remained  at  Malvern 
Hills,  was  such  as  to  give  entire  satisfaction  to  his  em- 


10  MEMOIROF 

ployers.  He  adds,  too,  from  their  lips,  that  he  made 
himself  very  agreeable  to  the  company  who  used  to  visit 
the  house,  and,  especially  the  ladies,  by  his  amiable  man- 
ners, and  (what  I  was  a  little  surprised  to  hear,)  by  his 
occasional  verses,  which,  I  suspect,  could  hardly  have  been 
very  polished,  but  which,  it  seems,  they  all  thought  truly 
charming. 

But  whilst  he  was  thus  "  winning  golden  opinions"  from 
all  about  him,  it  appears  from  his  subsequent  account  of  him- 
self, that  the  course  of  life  which  he  was  now  leading  was 
not  very  favourable  to  his  growth  in  piety.  The  gay  society, 
indeed,  in  which  he  was  mixing  every  day,  gave  him  a  taste 
for  the  pleasures  of  the  world,  which  naturally  interfered 
with  the  enjoyments  of  religion.  But  besides  this,  we  are 
told  that  among  the  guests  who  frequently  visited  the  hos- 
pitable mansion  in  which  he  was  living,  there  were  several 
gentlemen  of  sprightly  talents  and  pleasing  manners,  but 
whose  minds  were  unfortunately  imbued  with  the  principles 
of  infidelity,  which  were  much  more  fashionable  at  that  day, 
(during  the  progress  of  the  French  revolution,)  than  they 
are  at  present,  and  his  fondness  for  their  intellectual  con- 
versation, combined  with  a  want  of  christian  courage, 
led  him  to  listen  too  patiently  to  their  pernicious  senti- 
ments. At  the  same  time,  he  was  cut  off,  I  suppose,  in  a 
great  measure,  from  the  benefit  of  a  regular  attendance  upon 
public  worship,  and  from  all  intercourse  with  religious 
friends.  The  consequence  of  all  this  was,  that  growing  in- 
sensibly cold  and  negligent  in  the  duties  of  the  closet,  his 
mind  became  clouded  with  doubts,  not  indeed  of  the  truth  of 
the  gospel,  but  of  his  own  interest  in  its  promises,  and  he 
lost  that  peace  and  joy  in  believing,  for  which  he  could 
not  help  feeling  in  his  heart  that  the  worldly  pleasures 
which  he  had  gained  were  no  equivalent.  Even  these  plea- 
sures, too,  (as  usually  happens  in  such  cases,)  soon  ceased 
to  please  him ;  his  mind  became  soured  with  the  world  as 
well  as  with  heaven ;  and  he  found  himself  most  strangely 


I 


DOCTORRICE.  H 

and  awfully  disposed  to  regard  his  feUow  creatures,  as  well 
as  his  Creator,  with  a  new  and  unnatural  feeling  of  coldness 
and  distrust. 

In  this  state  of  things,  after  having  lived  with  Mr.  Nelson 
about  eighteen  months,  he  determined  to  pay  a  visit  to  his 
father  and  the  family,  to  see  them,  and  perhaps  to  recover 
his  lost  peace  of  mind.  He  proceeded,  accordingly,  to  Rich- 
mond, and  going  afterwards  up  the  river  in  an  open  boat, 
exposed  himself  by  the  way  to  the  rays  of  the  summer  sun, 
and  reached  home  only  to  be  attacked  by  a  severe  fever 
which  confined  him  to  his  bed  for  some  time,  and  brought 
him  down  to  the  very  brink  of  the  grave.  During  this  pe- 
riod, his  reflections,  as  we  may  suppose,  were  not  of  the 
most  pleasant  nature  ;  but,  in  his  actual  state,  it  was  no  doubt 
good  for  him  to  be  afflicted. 

On  recovering  from  his  sickness,  he  began  to  inquire 
what  he  should  do  to  support  himself;  for,  it  seems,  he  was 
^bravely  determined  not  to  hang  upon  his  father,  who,  indeed, 
was  hardly  able  to  maintain  him.  He  had  been  so  long 
absent  from  Malvern  Hills,  that  he  did  not  know  but  his 
place  might  have  been  supplied  in  the  interval  by  another. 
Or  if  it  had  not,  Mr.  Nelson,  as  he  had  heard,  from  having 
lived,  like  an  old  Virginian  of  that  day,  a  little  too  fast  for 
his  means,  was  no  longer  a  "  prosperous  gentleman,"  and 
might  therefore  be  unable  to  give  him  any  further  employ- 
ment ;  and  he  was,  moreover,  very  properly  afraid  to  expose 
himself  again  to  the  temptations  of  a  society  which  he  had 
found  so  dangerously  pleasing.  But  where,  then,  should  he 
go  ?  At  this  moment,  happening  providentially  to  look  into 
a  newspaper,  his  eye  fell  upon  an  advertisement  of  the  Trus- 
tees of  Hampden  Sydney  College,  in  the  county  of  Prince 
Edward,  announcing  that  they  were  in  want  of  a  tutor  for 
that  seminary ;  and  he  resolved  at  once  to  apply  for  the 
place. 

He  set  out,  accordingly,  for  the  college,  on  foot,  walking 
all  the  way,  a  distance  of  more  than  seventy  miles;  and  at  the 


12  MEMOIROP 

end  of  his  journey  had  the  mortification  to  find  that  the  trus- 
tees had  written  to  the  Rev.  Robert  Logan,  of  Fincastle,  invi- 
ting him  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  were  waiting  for  his  answer. 
As,  however,  they  encouraged  him  to  hope  that  they  would 
gladly  employ  him  if  that  gentleman  should  decline  their 
overture,  he  resovled  to  see  him  at  once,  and  ascertain  his 
intention  from  his  own  lips.  He  set  out,  therefore,  imme- 
diately, on  foot  again,  for  Fincastle,  with  only  a  solitary 
nine-pence  in  his  pocket,  and  having  obtained  Mr.  Logan's 
answer  to  the  trustees,  declining  their  invitation  for  him- 
self, and  recommending  him  to  their  favour,  he  returned 
with  it  to  Prince  Edward,  to  claim  their  promise ;  and  was 
immediately  appointed  a  tutor  of  the  college,  according  to 
his  wish. 

His  appearance  at  this  time,  (as  I  am  told  by  a  gentle- 
man who  says  he  remembers  it  perfectly,)  was  not  very 
promising.  It  was  towards  the  end  of  the  fall  vacation, 
about  the  last  of  October,  of  the  year  1796,  when  he  was 
hardly  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  was  tall  and  slender  in 
his  person,  just  recovered,  as  we  have  seen,  from  a  sick- 
ness which  had  left  him  pale  and  sallow ;  rather  awkward 
in  his  carriage,  and  very  shabby  in  his  dress.  His  only  coat 
had  been  fairly  worn  out  in  the  service,  and  seemed  to  beg 
loudly  for  another,  which  he  was  yet  unable  to  purchase. 
Add  to  this,  he  was  anxious  and  troubled,  it  appears,  about 
a  small  debt,  which  he  had  contracted  in  Lexington,  while 
he  was  a  student  in  the  academy  there,  and  which  he  had 
riot  yet  been  able  to  satisfy.  And,  above  all,  his  mind,  we 
are  told,  was  still  clouded  and  oppressed  by  secret  sorrow — 
the  result  of  his  folly  and  levity  at  Malvern  Hills — and  he 
was  still  "  walking  in  darkness"  on  his  way.  In  short,  he 
was  in  a  situation  to  need  the  services  of  a  christian  friend, 
and  such  a  one  as  he  most  happily  found  on  the  spot  in 
major  James  Morton,  the  worthy  treasurer  of  the  board, 
(an  old  revolutionary  officer  of  warm  heart  and  liberal 
spirit,  and  a  pious  and  zealous  elder  of  the  church,)  who. 


DOCTORRICE.  13 

seeing  the  worth  of  his  character  through  the  disguise  of 
his  poverty,  took  him  at  once  by  the  hand,  advanced  him  a 
small  sum  of  money  to  pay  off  his  debt,  and  furnished  him 
with   a   decent   suit   of   clothes   on   account,   but   without 
troubling  him  with  the  bill.     He  introduced  him  also  to  his 
family  at  Willington,  (his  farm  so  called,  about  four  miles 
from  the  college,)  where  he  found  another,  and,  if  possible, 
a  still  kinder  friend  in  Mrs.  Morton.     This  excellent  lady, 
indeed,   (whom  I  remember  myself  with  great  pleasure,) 
was  a  woman  after  his  own  heart, — pious,  sensible,  affec- 
tionate, and  blest  besides  with  that  cheerful   and  hopeful 
turn  of  temper  which  makes  piety  more  pious,  or,  at  least, 
m.ore  pleasing.     She  was  thus  admirably  qualified  to  "min- 
ister to  a  mind  diseased;"  and,  having  won  his  confidence, 
and  heard  his  whole  case,  she  applied  herself,  with  equal 
tenderness  and  skill,  to   heal  his  "  wounded  spirit."     She 
spoke  to  him,  accordingly,  in  the  comfortable  words  of  the 
gospel,  and  in  a  manner  that  seemed  to  revive  all  his  first 
impressions  of  their  truth,  and  of  their  interest  for  his  own 
heart.     Finding,  too,  that  he  was  under  the  influence  of  a 
morbid   misanthropy,   which   she   rightly  judged    was    as 
foreign  to  his  natural  disposition  as  it  was  to  the  principles 
of  true  religion,  she  strove  to  infuse  something  of  her  own 
gentle  and  gracious  humanity  into  his  bosom,  and  with  so 
much  success,  that  he  was  soon  heard  to  declare  warmly,  that 
it  was  impossible  to  know  such  a  woman  without  thinking 
more  kindly  of  his  fellow  creatures  for  her  sake.     Still  his 
moody  malady  was  not  to  be  cured  in   a  moment,  even  by 
such  appliances;  but  only  by  time,  and,  above   all,  by  the 
influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which,  in  the  true  feeling  of 
a  christian  friend,   she  earnestly  and    constantly  implored 
for  him  at  the  throne  of  grace. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  vacation  had  glided  away,  and  our 
young  tutor  had  entered  upon  his  oflicial  duties  in  the 
college,  with  zeal  and  spirit.  The  college,  however, 
which  had  flourished  greatly  for  a  while  under  the  auspices 


14  M  E  M  O  I  R    O  F 

of  its  founder,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  (after- 
wards President  of  Nassau  Hall,  at  Princeton,)  and  still 
more  under  his  brother,  the  Rev.  John  Blair  Smith,  who 
succeeded  him  ;  was  now  in  a  low  state.  It  was,  in  fact, 
without  a  head ;  for  the  Rev.  Drury  Lacy,  who  had  mar- 
ried a  sister  of  Mrs.  Morton,  and  resided  on  his  farm  in  the 
neighbourhood,  and  who  had  acted  for  some  thue  as  presi- 
dent pro.  tern.,  had  either  withdrawn,  or  was  withdrawing 
from  it;  and  the  students  were  very  few.  Our  tutor's  class 
was,  of  course,  but  small,  (consisting,  at  first,  of  hardly 
more  than  three  or  four  members,)  and  after  giving  all 
proper  attention  to  it,  he  found  that  he  had  still  much  time 
to  devote  to  his  own  studies,  and  to  his  favourite  exercise 
of  writing.  Accordingly,  he  spent  much  of  his  leisure  in 
this  way,  and,  besides  a  number  of  letters  to  his  friend 
Mrs.  Morton,  he  wrote  several  little  pieces  for  her  daughter 
Anne,  then  a  small  girl  about  eleven  years  of  age,  in  whose 
welfare  he  already  took  a  lively  interest ;  among  others,  an 
abridgement  of  Bryants'  Observations  on  the  l^lagues  of 
Egypt,  and  Lord  Littleton's  Observations  on  the  Conver- 
sion and  Apostleship  of  St.  Paul.  He  continued  also  to 
visit,  more  and  more  frequently,  his  kind  friends  at  Wil- 
lington,  where  he  usually  busied  himself  in  teaching  the 
children,  especially  his  favourite  Anne,  (whom  he  found,  as 
he  thought,  uncommonly  apt,)  directing  their  reading,  cor- 
recting their  ^vriting,  and  aiding  their  parents  with  his  good 
advice. 

A  few  months  afterwards,  the  Rev.  Arcliibald  Alexander, 
(now  a  Professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Prince- 
ton,) who  had  been  some  time  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Charlotte,  and  colleague  with  the  Rev.  Matthew  Lyie  in 
the  church  of  Briery,  was  elected  President  of  Hampden 
Sidney,  and,  at  his  instance,  the  Rev.  Conrad  Speece,  (now 
Dr.  Speece,  of  Augusta.)  was  appointed  a  tutor ;  and  both . 
of  these  gentlemen  came  to  the  college  together  to  reside. 
Their  arrival  was,  of  course,  greeted    with  great   joy  by 


DOCTORRICE.  15 

young  Rice,  who  soon  formed  a  friendship  with  them, 
which  continued  with  unabated  constancy  to  the  day  of  his 
death.  Indeed,  it  is  well  known  by  all  who  were  intimate 
with  him,  that  he  always  regarded  his  forming  this  con- 
nexion with  these  excellent  and  distinguished  men,  as  one 
of  the  most  important  and  interesting  incidents  of  his  life, 
as  he  esteemed  them  both  highly  for  their  learning  and 
talents,  and  still  more  for  their  "  work's  sake."  The  first 
of  them,  especially,  who  was  several  years  older  than  him- 
self, and  already  an  able  and  popular  preacher  of  the 
gospel,  he  regarded  with  a  mixture  of  admiration  and 
affection,  which  he  never  felt  for  any  other  person ;  and  he 
appears  to  have  attended  upon  his  ministry  at  this  time 
with  great  satisfaction,  and  no  doubt  with  great  benefit. 

Apprised  of  his  intimacy  with  these  gentlemen,  at  this 
interesting  period  of  his  life,  and  wishing  to  give  my 
readers  some  account  of  him  from  such  competent  judges, 
I  wrote  to  them,  requesting  them  to  furnish  me  with  their 
recollections  of  him  for  the  purpose ;  and  they  have  both 
answered  me  in  the  most  obliging  manner.  Dr.  Alexander, 
indeed,  (more  particularly,)  has  favoured  me  with  a  sketch 
of  him,  (or  at  least  of  his  mind,)  which  is  very  nearly  all 
that  I  could  have  wished,  and  v/hich  I  shall  give,  with  great 
pleasure,  in  his  own  words. 

"  When  I  first  became  acquainted  with  Dr.  Rice,"  says 
he,  "  he  was  not  more  than  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
After  completing  his  course  at  Washington  College,  he  had 
spent  one  year"  (about  a  year  and  a  half,)  "  as  a  private 
tutor  in  a  family,  in  one  of  the  eastern  counties  of  the 
state ;  but  a  tutor  being  wanted  at  Hampden  Sidney,  he 
was  employed  by  the  trustees  in  that  capacity.  When  I 
came  to  reside  at  that  place,  I  found  him  there ;  and  from 
this  time  our  intercourse  was  constant  and  intimate,  as  long 
as  I  remained  in  the  state;  and  our  friendship  then  con- 
tracted, continued  to  be  uninterrupted  to  the  day  of  his 
death.     It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  no  other  person  has 


16  MEMOIROF 

had  better  opportunities  of  knowing  his  characteristic 
features,  than  myself;  and  yet  I  find  it  difficult  to  convey 
to  others  a  correct  view  of  the  subject.  I  will,  however, 
make  a  few  observations,  which  you  can  make  use  of,  in 
whole,  or  in  part,  as  in  your  judgment  may  best  promote 
the  object  which  you  have  in  view. 

1.  One  of  the  most  obvious  traits  of  his  mental  character 
at  this  period,  was  independence  ;  by  which,  I  mean  a 
fixed  purpose  to  form  his  own  opinions ;  and  to  exercise, 
on  all  proper  occasions,  entire  freedom  in  the  expression  of 
them.  He  seems  very  early  to  liave  determined,  not  to 
permit  his  mind  to  be  enslaved  to  any  human  authority,  but 
on  all  subjects  within  his  reach,  to  think  for  himself.  He 
possessed,  in  an  eminent  degree,  that  moral  courage  or 
firmness  of  mind,  which  leaves  a  man  at  full  liberty  to 
examine  and  judge,  in  all  matters  connected  with  human 
duty,  or  human  happiness.  But,  though  firm  and  indepen- 
dent, he  was  far  from  being  precipitate,  either  in  forming 
or  expressing  his  opinions.  He  knew  how  to  exercise  that 
species  of  self-denial,  so  difficult  to  most  young  men,  of 
Suspending  his  judgment  on  any  subject,  until  he  should 
have  the  opportunity  of  contemplating  it  in  all  its  relations. 
He  was  "swift  to  hear,  slow  to  speak."  No  one,  1  be- 
lieve, ever  heard  him  give  a  crude  or  hasty  answer  to  any 
question  which  might  be  proposed.  Careful  deliberation 
uniformly  preceded  the  utterance  of  his  opinions. 

This  unyielding  independence  of  mind,  and  slow  and 
cautious  method  of  speaking,  undoubtedly  rendered  his 
conversation  at  first  less  interesting,  than  that  of  many 
other  persons ;  and  his  habit  of  honestly  expressing  the  con- 
victions of  his  own  mind,  prevented  him  from  seeking  to 
please  his  company  by  accommodating  himself  to  their 
tastes  and  opinions.  Indeed,  to  be  perfectly  candid,  there 
was  in  his  manners,  at  this  period,  less  of  the  graceful  and 
conciliatory  character,  than  was  desirable.  He  appeared, 
in  fact,  to  be  too  indifferent  to  the  opinions  of  others ;  and 


DOCTORRICE.  17 

with  the  exception  of  a  small  circle  of  intimate  friends, 
manifested  no  disposition  to  cultivate  the  acquaintance,  or 
seek  the  favour  of  men.  This  was,  undoubtedly,  a  fault; 
but  it  was  one  which  had  a  near  affinity  to  a  sterling 
virtue ;  and,  what  is  better,  it  was  one  which,  in  after  life, 
he  entirely  corrected. 

Another  thing  by  which  he  was  characterized,  when  I 
first  knew  him,  and  which  had  much  influence  on  his  future 
eminence,  was  his  insatiable  thirst  for  knowledge.  His 
avidity  for  reading,  was  indeed  excessive.  When  he  had 
got  hold  of  a  new  book,  or  an  old  one,  which  contained  mat- 
ter interesting  to  him,  scarcely  any  thing  could  moderate 
his  ardour,  or  recall  him  from  his  favourite  pursuit.  When 
I  came  to  reside  at  Hampden  Sydney,  he  had  been  there  only 
a  few  months,  and  I  was  astonished  to  learn  how  exten- 
sively he  had  ranged  over  the  books  which  belonged  to  the 
college  library.  And,  as  far  as  I  can  recollect,  this  thirst 
for  knowledge  was  indulged  at  this  time,  without  any  regard 
to  system ;  and  often,  it  appeared  to  me,  without  any  defi- 
nite object.  It  was  an  appetite  of  the  very  strongest  kind, 
and  led  to  the  indiscriminate  perusal  of  books  of  almost 
every  sort.  Now,  although  this  insatiable  thirst  for  know- 
ledge, and  unconquerable  avidity  for  books,  M^ould,  in  many 
minds,  have  produced  very  small,  if  any  good  efl'ect,  and  no 
doubt  was  in  some  respects  injurious  to  him ;  yet,  posses- 
sing, as  he  did,  a  mind  of  uncommon  vigour,  and  a  judgment 
remarkably  sound  and  discriminating,  that  accumulation  of 
ideas  and  facts,  which  to  most  men  would  have  been  a  use- 
less, unwieldy  mass,  was  by  him  so  digested  and  incorpo- 
rated with  his  own  thoughts,  that  it  had,  I  doubt  not,  a 
mighty  influence  in  elevating  his  mind  to  that  commanding 
eminence,  to  which  it  attained  in  his  maturer  years. 

A  third  thing  which  at  this  early  period  was  characteristic 
of  him,  and  which  had  much  influence  on  his  capacity  of 
being  useful  to  his  fellow  creatures  in  after  life,  was  a  re- 
markable fondness  for  his  pen.     He  was,  when  I  first  knew 

3* 


18  M  EM  01  R      OF 

him,  in  the  habit  of  writing  every  day.  He  read,  and  highly 
relished  the  best  productions  of  the  British  Essayists  ;  and 
in  his  compositions  he  would  imitate  the  style  and  manner  of 
the  authors  whom  he  chiefly  admired.  Addison  appeared 
to  be  his  favourite ;  but  his  own  turn  of  mind  led  him  to 
adopt  a  style  more  sarcastic  and  satirical  than  that  which  is 
found  in  most  of  the  papers  of  the  Spectator  or  Guardian. 
These  early  productions  of  his  pen  were  never  intended  for 
the  press,  and  were  never  otherwise  published  than  by  being 
spoken  occasionally  by  the  students  on  the  college  stage.  I 
may  add,  that  his  first  essays  in  composition,  though  vigor- 
ous, and  exuberant  in  matter,  needed  much  pruning  and  cor- 
rection. 

There  was  yet  one  other  trait  in  his  mental  character  at 
this  time,  which  struck  me  as  very  remarkable  in  one  of 
his  order  of  intellect.  He  never  discovered  a  disposition  to 
engage  in  discussions  of  a  speculative  or  metaphysical 
kind.  I  cannot  now  recollect  that,  on  any  occasion,  he 
engaged  with  earnestness  in  controversies  of  this  sort ;  and 
this  was  the  more  remarkable  because  the  persons  with 
whom  he  was  daily  conversant,  were  much  occupied  with 
them.  To  such  discussions,  however,  he  could  listen  with 
attention ;  and  would  often  show,  by  a  short  and  pithy 
remark,  that  though  he  had  no  taste  for  these  speculative 
and  abstruse  controversies,  he  fully  understood  them.  Yet 
I  am  of  opinion  that  he  took  less  interest  in  metaphysical 
disquisitions,  and  read  less  on  these  points,  than  in  any 
other  department  of  philosophy.  On  some  accounts,  this 
was  a  disadvantage  to  him,  as  it  rendered  him  less  acute  in 
minute  discrimination,  than  he  otherwise  might  have  been ; 
but  on  the  other  h-and,  it  is  probable,  that  this  very  circum- 
stance had  some  influence  in  preparing  him  to  seize  the 
great  and  prominent  points  of  a  subject  with  a  larger  grasp, 
while  the  minor  points  were  disregarded  as  unworthy  of 
attention." 

To  this  delineation  of  the  character  of  his  mind,  my  cor- 


DOCTORRICE.  19 

respondent  adds:  "As  a  teacher,  he  cherished  a  laudable 
ambition  to  know  thoroughly  and  minutely  all  the  branches 
of  learning  in  which  he  professed  to  give  instruction. 
His  classical  knowledge  was  accurate  and  highly  respect- 
able ;  and  the  ease  with  which  he  pursued  mathematical 
reasoning  gave  evidence  that  he  might  have  become  a 
proficient  in  that  department  of  science.  At  the  same 
time,  he  was  '  apt  to  teach,'  and  succeeded  well  in  train- 
ing up  his  pupils  in  all  their  studies."  And  with  regard  to 
his  personal  piety,  he  observes:  "When  I  first  became 
acquainted  with  him,  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  church 
for  some  time ;  but  there  was  nothing  remarkable  in  his 
religious  character.  His  conversation  and  conduct  were 
becoming  his  christian  profession,  but  he  exhibited  no 
uncommon  zeal,  or  spirituahty.  Indeed,  I  am  of  opinion, 
that,  at  this  period,  his  piety  though  sincere,  was  far  below 
that  high  standard  to  which  he  afterwards  attained." 

In  like  manner,  Dr.  Speece,  in  his  letter  to  me,  more 
briefly  says,  "Between  May  1799,  and  September  1801, 
we  lived  together,  the  whole,  or  greater  part  of  the  time. 
My  friend  did  not  possess,  in  those  days,  the  habit  of  close, 
persevering  study,  which  he  afterwards  acquired.  His 
reading  was  a  good  deal  desultory.  I  remember  feeling 
surprise  now  and  then,  on  his  owning  to  me,  concerning 
some  book  of  prime  merit,  that  he  had  never  read  it 
through.  Still  his  quick  mind  gathered  and  digested 
knowledge  with  great  rapidity.  I  considered  him  an  able 
teacher,  both  in  languages  and  science.  There  was  in  him 
a  vein  of  dry,  playful  humour,  which  made  his  conversa- 
tion very  pleasant  to  all  companies  which  he  frequented. 
Meanwhile,  his  conduct  was  such,  in  all  respects,  as  to 
adorn  his  christian  profession.  The  satirical  talent  which, 
you  know,  he  possessed  in  no  ordinary  degree,  always 
levelled  its  shafts  against  vice  and  folly." 

To  these  accounts  I  may  add,  that  during  a  considerable 
part  of  the  time  to  which  they  relate,  that  is,  for  two  or 


20  MEMOIROF 

three  years  after  he  came  to  Hampden  Sidney,  his  intention 
was  to  pursue  the  practice  of  physic  for  his  future  pro- 
fession, and  his  reading  was  more  particularly  directed  to 
that  object.  In  fact,  he  was  pursuing  something  like  a 
regular  course  of  study  in  this  science,  under  the  direction 
of  Dr.  Goodrich  Wilson,  an  eminent  practitioner  in  the 
county  of  Prince  Edward.  And,  with  regard  to  his  habits 
at  this  period,  it  appears  that  he  usually  spent  some  part 
of  the  college  vacations  in  visiting  his  friends  at  Wil- 
lington,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith,  of  Montrose,  in  Pow- 
hatan ;  (indeed  this  lady,  who  was  the  wife  of  a  brother  of 
Mrs.  Morton,  seems  to  have  been  almost  a  rival  of  her  in  our 
youth's  affection ;)  and  his  conduct  and  conversation  were 
such  as  to  endear  his  company  to  all  whom  he  visited. 
I  see,  also,  by  his  letters,  that  he  sometimes,  and  perhaps 
frequently,  attended  the  sessions  of  the  court,  and  the  elec- 
tions which  were  held  at  the  village  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  college,  and  listened  to  the  speakers  with  attention, 
and,  no  doubt,  with  some  advantage  to  his  own  subsequent 
performances  in  the  pulpit. 

On  one  of  these  occasions,  moie  particularly,  as  I  re- 
member to  have  heard  him  say,  he  was  there  when  his  old 
and  kind  monitor,  Patrick  Henry,  made  one  of  his  last 
addresses  to  the  people,  and  when  the  celebrated  John 
Randolph,  of  Roanoke,  made  almost  his  first  appearance 
on  the  stage  of  public  life.  This  was,  I  think,  in  the  spring 
of  1799,  when  Mr.  Henry  was  a  candidate  to  represent  the 
neighbouring  county  of  Charlotte,  in  which  he  resided,  in 
the  General  Assembly,  and  Mr.  Randolph  was  out  to  repre- 
sent the  district,  of  which  Prince  Edward  formed  a  part, 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  He  was,  of  course, 
greatly  pleased  with  both  orators;  though  he  paid  his 
special  homage,  as  he  told  me,  to  the  setting,  rather  than  to 
the  rising  sun.  The  former,  indeed,  still  showed  all  the 
grandeur  of  his  splendid  orb ;  while  the  latter,  we  may  sup- 
pose, just  rising  above  the  edge  of  the  horizon,  hardly  ap- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  21 

peared  as  yet  in  his  proper  shape,  and  only  intimated  his 
future  brilliancy  by  the  fitful,  but  prophetic  glances  of  his 
beams.* 

He  continued  to  teach  and  pursue  his  studies  in  this  vv^ay 
till  the  spring  of  1799,  when,  at  the  request  of  his  friend 
major  Morton,  he  retired  from  the  college,  to  take  charge 
of  a  small  school  in  his  house.  This  consisted  of  the 
major's  family,  and  some  half  a  dozen  young  girls,  the 
daughters  of  some  of  the  major's  friends,  whom  he  in- 
structed for  about  a  year,  in  the  common  branches  of 
English  education,  in  a  manner  that  gave  entire  satisfaction 
to  their  parents.  In  the  mean  time,  however,  it  seems,  the 
interest  which  he  had  felt  from  the  first  in  one  of  his 
pupils,  (the  good  major's  eldest  daughter,)  had  gradually 
ripened  into  a  warmer  sentiment ;  for  his  little  Anne  had 
now  attained   her  fifteenth  year,  and  (besides   a  pleasing 

*  I  may  add  here,  by  the  way,  that  in  giving  me  his  account  of 
the  affair,  he  exhibited  a  very  amusing  specimen  of  that  peculiar 
humour  which  Dr.  Speece  has  mentioned  as  one  of  his  characteristic 
traits,  in  describing  the  effect  produced  by  the  two  speakers  upon  a 
countryman  present,  in  a  most  droll  and  diverting  manner.  The 
man,  it  seems,  drank  in  all  Mr.  Henry's  words  with  open  mouth,  as 
well  as  ears,  and  when  the  orator  closed  his  address,  stood  still  wait- 
ing for  more  last  words  from  those  wonderful  lips;  thinking,  no 
doubt,  (as  he  showed  by  his  looks,)  that  such  a  talker  was  the  only 
man  in  the  world  worth  hearing.  Accordingly,  when  Mr.  Randolph, 
immediately  afterwards,  got  up  to  make  something  like  a  reply  to 
Mr.  Henry,  (though  they  were  not  rival  candidates ;  but  only  of  oppo- 
site politics,)  Clodpole  appeared  to  regard  it  as  a  great  piece  of  pre- 
sumption in  any  one,  but  especially  such  a  beardless  whipster,  to 
attempt  to  speak  after  old  Patrick,  and  was  evidently  most  doggedly 
determined  not  to  hear  a  word  that  he  could  say.  By  degrees,  how- 
ever, the  clear  silver  tones,  and  spirit-stirring  accents  of  the  youthful 
orator,  began  to  produce  their  effect  upon  him  in  spite  of  himself, 
and,  after  listening  to  him  for  a  little  while,  he  turned  around  to 
another  countryman  at  his  elbow,  and,  with  a  most  comical  expres- 
sion of  face,  "  I  tell  you  what,"  said  he,  "  the  young  man  is  no  bug- 
eater  neither." 


22  MEMOIROF  j 

person,)  appeared  to  him  to  possess  all  those  qualities  of 
mind  and  heart,  which  he  found  to  be  congenial  with  his 
own.  She  had,  moreover,  like  himself,  become  a  subject 
of  grace  at  an  early  period  of  her  life,  and  had  recently 
made  a  profession  of  religion  in  the  church  to  which  he 
was  attached ;  so  that  she  seemed  to  be  (as  she  afterwards 
proved  in  fact,)  the  very  helpmate  that  Divine  Providence 
had  made  for  him.  Aware,  however,  that  she  was  yet  too 
young  to  listen  to  his  "  pleaded  reason,"  he  had  studiously 
endeavoured  to  hide  his  passion  from  her,  and  from  all 
about  him,  and  with  so  much  success  that  no  one  had 
even  suspected  the  truth,  when  a  little  incident  which  hap- 
pened at  this  time,  (a  "  trifle  light  as  air,")  drove  him  to 
divulge  his  secret  himself.  This  he  did,  in  the  first 
instance,  (very  properly)  to  her  mother,  by  whom  he  was 
happy  to  find  that  the  announcement  was  received  with  all 
the  sympathy  and  favour  which  he  could  have  wished. 
Unfortunately,  however,  (as  "  the  course  of  true  love  never 
did  run  smooth,")  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  the  young 
lady,  who  had  not  been  duly  prepared  for  the  disclosure, 
was  not  exactly  ready  to  accept  the  generous  offer  which 
he  was  disposed  to  make  her.  The  fact  was,  she  had  been 
accustomed  to  look  up  to  him  with  a  respect  bordering  upon 
reverence,  as  her  instructor,  and  the  friend  of  her  parents, 
and  could  not  bring  herself,  all  at  once,  to  see  him  in  the 
softer  light  in  which  he  now  desired  to  be  viewed.  And 
on  the  other  hand,  he  was  too  honest  and  too  hearty  in  his 
passion,  to  practice  the  usual  arts  of  courtship,  and  imme- 
diately abandoned  his  suit  in  despair. 

In  this  state  of  things,  feeling  it  impossible  to  remain  any 
longer  at  Willington,  he  determined,  with  the  full  approba- 
tion of  major  Morton,  to  break  up  his  school,  and  accepting 
the  kind  invitation  of  his  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  of 
Montrose,  he  repaired  to  their  house  to  pursue  his  studies 
for  the  medical  profession,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Sam-, 
iiel  Wilson  of  Powhatan.     Here  he  found  himself  in  the  ' 


DOCTORRICE.  23 

bosom  of  a  pious  and  amiable  family  who  warmly  esteemed 
him,  and,  consoling  himself  as  Avell  as  he  could  with  that 
true  philosophy  which  he  had  learned,  he  applied  himself  to 
his  books  with  as  much  diligence  as  the  state  of  his  mind 
would  permit. 

The  following  letters  which  he  wrote  at  this  period,  give 
us  the  first  sketches  of  his  character  by  his  own  hand,  and  dis- 
play his  manly  and  christian  spirit  in  a  very  interesting  light. 

TO  MRS.  MARY  MORTON. 

Montrose,  June  17th,  1800. 

My  dearest  friend, — With  my  heart  warmed  by  the  peru- 
sal of  your  most  friendly  letter,  I  sit  down  to  write  to  you. 
Whenever  1  undertake  to  say  any  thing  to  you,  my  heart  is 
too  full  to  express  its  feelings.  You  indeed  must  be — you 
are  my  mother.  I  do  with  pleasure  remember  all  those 
hours  of  genuine  friendship,  which  we  have  spent  in  the 
converse  of  the  soul,  in  giving  and  receiving  testimonials 
of  regard  vv^arm  from  the  heart.  They  can  never  be  erased 
from  my  memory.  And  I  trust  that  in  sincerity  I  bless  God 
for  his  goodness  to  me  in  thus  giving  me  such  a  friend.  In 
no  other  circumstances  do  I  more  plainly  see  the  hand  of 
God,  than  in  bestowing  upon  me  so  many  honest- hearted 
friends  as  I  have.  They  are  all  among  the  excellent  of  the 
earth.  Their  regard  is  worth  having,  because  they  esteem 
only  what  is  good.  May  the  Lord  make  me  worthy  of 
them. 

Oh  how  glad  I  was  to  see  the  dear  major !  And  he  I 
knew  was  glad  to  see  me.  If  I  was  not  talking  to  you  I 
could  say  so  many  fine  things  of  him.  But  hush — I  ivoii't 
say  another  word. 

You  tell  me  I  must  be  resigned  to  the  will  of  Providence. 
I  trust  I  shall  be  enabled  to  bear  the  afflictions  that  it  pleases 
God  I  should  suffer.  I  hope  I  shall  submit  with  cheerful- 
ness. But  were  you  no  more  than  my  friend,  1  could  give 
you  some  faint  idea  of  what  I  feel.     To  paint  in  colours. 


24  MEMOIROF 

such  as  1  drew,  the  scene  of  happiness,  you  would  call  me  ex- 
travagant. All  that  earth  could  bestow,  and  all  that  heaven 
had  promised,  I  hoped  for — but,  "like  the  baseless  fabric  of 
a  vision,"  it  is  fled. 

"  To  hope  the  best,"  says  Dr.  Young,  "  is  pious,  brave, 
and  wise."  I  will  hope  the  best.  I  will  cheer  my  heart 
with  the  prospect  of  better  days.  Blessed  be  God  I  am  bet- 
ter off  than  I  deserve.  I  have  favours  heaped  upon  me  in  a 
rich  abundance.  And  I  am  striving  to  make  good  use  of  my 
time.  I  trust  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to  step  forward  before 
very  long  in  an  active  sphere  of  life.  And  I  hope  to  be  not 
entirely  useless  to  my  fellow  creatures.  I  am  determined 
by  the  assistance  of  God's  grace  to  aim  chiefly  at  the  pro- 
motion of  religion  in  the  world.  At  every  leisure  hour  I  am 
trying  to  prepare  myself  for  the  defence  of  religion  against 
the  bold  attacks  of  those  daring  infidels  who  scruple  not  to 
abuse  that  holy  religion  which  we  profess.  I  must  beg  par- 
don for  saying  so  much  of  myself.  I  will  not  be  guilty  of 
such  vanity  again. 

Give  my  love  to  all  my  friends.  They  all  know  I  love 
them.      With  all  the  sentiments  of  friendship,  I  am  yours. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  MARY  MORTON. 

Montrose,  July  27th,  1800. 
My  dear  friend, — I  cannot  well  express  how  much  your 
afflictions  have  added  to  my  tenderness  for  you.  Since 
you  left  us,  my  thoughts  have  constantly  followed  you  with 
the  eager  anxiety  of  suspense.  I  long  to  hear  from  you  ;  I 
long  to  hear  how  the  major  feels  now.  I  wish  to  hear 
whether  his  prospects  are  more  encouraging,  and,  if  not, 
whether  he  enjoys  more  peace  of  mind,  and  feels  greater 
resignation  of  soul  under  the  afflictive  dispensations  of 
Providence.  Nothing  but  a  sense"  of  the  imprudence  of 
the  step,  nothing  indeed  but  a  conviction  that  it  was  not 
my  duty,  could  have  prevented  me  from  coming  to  see  you 


DOCTORKICE.  25 

this  week.  But  I  know  I  could  have  done  you  no  good. 
I  could  have  given  no  counsel ;  I  could  have  offered  no 
comfort.  I  could  only  sympathise  if  you  were  in  distress, 
or  rejoice  were  you  blessed  with  the  smiles  of  prosperity. 
And  this  I  can  do  at  Montrose,  without  any  hazard  of 
doing  injury  to  myself,  or  adding  to  the  unhappiness  of 
another  person. 

As  it  appears  that  I  am  never  to  possess  what  I  view  as 
the  only  source  of  earthly  happiness,  I  am  trying  to  lay 
up  to  myself  treasure  in  heaven.  But,  alas  !  my  heart  is 
chained  to  the  objects  of  sense.  1  every  day  feel  with 
emphatic  force,  the  truth  of  that  saying,  "Of  yourselves 
ye  can  do  nothing."  Surely,  no  wretch  ever  felt  as 
entirely  helpless  as  I  am.  I  feel  that  my  attempts  are  all 
fruitless,  that  my  labours  are  all  in  vain,  that  my  righte- 
ousness is  as  lilthy  rags,  that  it  is  indeed  nothing,  that  my 
wisdom  is  all  folly,  my  strength  all  weakness,  and  my 
best  services  all  sin  and  impurity.  With  propriety  I  may 
exclaim,  "  Oh,  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver 
me  from  the  body  of  this  death?"  These  feelings  naturally 
cast  down  my  soul ;  but  now  and  then  I  feel  cheered  by 
some  gracious  promise.  Some  portion  of  the  balm  of 
Gliead  is  poured  into  my  wounded  heart,  some  comfort 
from  the  tree  of  life,  whose  leaves  are  for  the  healing  of 
the  nations.  But  soon  my  comforts  vanish.  Sin  hangs 
like  a  heavy  clog  on  my  soul,  chills  my  love,  and  almost 
extinguishes  my  zeal.  Do  you,  my  friend,  feel  these  alter- 
nations of  light  and  darkness,  of  pleasure  and  pain,  of 
rapture  and  grief?  Or  do  you  go  on  from  one  degree  of 
strength  to  another?  Do  you  feel  faith  lively,  hope 
strong,  evidences  bright  and  unclouded  ?  If  so,  you  have 
abundant  reason  to  be  thankful.  If  not,  God  grant  you 
may.  I  can  wish  no  better  wish  to  my  best  of  friends 
than  that  she  may  daily  feel  comfortable  assurances  of  the 
divine  favour,  and  that  her  soul  may  constantly  rejoice  in 
God,  the  God  of  her  salvation. 
4 


26  MEMOIROP 

I  feel  anxious  for  my  little  Mary.  Pray  let  me  know 
how  she  is,  and  what  she  is  doing.  I  wish  her  to  possess 
every  quality  that  can  adorn  a  christian,  or  accomplish  a 
lady.  I  wish  to  contribute  my  little  mite  to  make  her  such 
another  as  her  mother.  Let  me  know  what  she  does,  and 
I  will  write  to  her  by  the  first  opportunity.  Tell  her  she 
is  my  little  Mary  yet. 

Tell  my  boy  to  be  good,  and  make  haste  to  answer  my 
letter.  Kiss  Fisher.  I  love  you  all  in  Prince  Edward 
(that  love  me).  I  wish  you  all  to  be  happy  as  heaven  can 
make  you.  Remember  me  affectionately  to  all  my  friends. 
I  will  write  to  them  as  soon  as — they  will  write  to  me. 
I  am,  with  the  sincerity  of  friendship,  yours  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

He  continued  to  pursue  his  studies  during  the  summer, 
and,  in  the  following  fall,  was  on  the  point  of  setting  off  for 
Philadelphia,  to  attend  the  medical  lectures  in  that  city, 
when  he  received  a  new  and  pressing  invitation  from  the 
trustees  of  Hampden  Sydney  to  resume  the  office  of  tutor 
in  that  seminary ;  and  being  warmly  urged  by  his  friend 
major  Morton  to  accept  it,  (and  drawn  perhaps  unconsciously 
by  the  secret  influence  of  the  major's  daughter,)  he  returned 
to  Prince  Edward,  and  again  took  up  his  quarters  in  the 
college. 

Here  he  was,  of  course,  happy  to  join  his  friends,  Messrs. 
Alexander  and  Speece  again,  and  to  renew  his  intercourse 
with  them  which  he  had  formerly  found  so  pleasant,  and 
which,  we  may  suppose,  he  now  enjoyed  with  a  higher 
rehsh.  Indeed,  he  had  not  been  long  associated  with  them 
this  time,  before  he  felt  the  happy  influence  of  their  com- 
pany and  conversation  upon  him,  and  began  to  deliberate 
very  seriously,  whether  it  was  not  his  duty  to  adopt  the 
same  profession  which  they  were  pursuing,  and  become  a 
preacher  of  the  gospel  himself.  It  was  not,  however,  we 
are  told,  without  much  diffidence,  and  many  misgivings, 


DOCTORRICE.  27 

that  he  resolved  to  prepare  himself  for  the  sacred  office.  He 
felt  his  deficiencies,  indeed,  and  want  of  proper  qualifica- 
tions to  become  an  ambassador  for  Christ,  according  to  his 
idea  of  the  transcendant  grandeur  of  the  character,  with  the 
most  painful  and  mortifying  conviction.  Among  other 
things,  he  was  conscious  that  he  wanted  that  readiness  and 
fluency  of  speech  which  he  rightly  judged  was  highly  im- 
portant for  any  one  who  would  undertake  to  teach  his  fellow- 
creatures  from  the  pulpit ;  indeed,  he  was  at  this  time,  (and 
more  or  less  all  his  life,)  troubled  occasionally  with  an  un- 
pleasant, and  sometimes  rather  alarming  stoppage  in  the 
oesophagus,  which  interrupted  the  passage  of  his  words, 
and  almost  of  his  breath,  in  a  manner  that  was  painful  to 
his  hearers  as  well  as  to  himself;  and  he  doubted  whether 
he  should  ever  be  able  to  overcome  it.  Still  the  conviction 
which  he  felt  that  there  was  a  most  lamentable  want  of  well 
informed  preachers  in  the  country  around  him,  and  his  anxi- 
ety to  do  something,  however  little,  towards  supplying  the 
deficiency,  combined  with  his  love  of  souls,  and  his  zeal  for 
the  glory  of  God,  which  was  every  day  growing  stronger 
and  stronger  in  his  heart,  made  him  determine  at  last,  after 
much  prayerful  reflection,  to  qualify  himself  as  M^ell  as  he 
could  to  become  a  herald  of  the  cross.  He  engaged  accord- 
ingly, in  the  study  of  theology,  under  the  direction  of  his 
friend,  Mr.  Alexander;  and  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  give 
my  readers  some  account  of  his  proceeding  in  this  new  un- 
dertaking, from  the  pen  of  that  gentleman  himself,  in  the 
following  further  extract  from  his  letter  to  me. 

"  Our  excellent  friend  was  not  a  systematic  student  in 
his  theological  studies ;  and  although  you  seem  disposed  to 
give  me  the  credit  of  having  been  his  preceptor,  in  this 
sacred  science,  yet  candour  induces  me  to  say,  that  I  have 
a  very  slight  claim  to  the  honour.  I  never  considered 
myself  his  teacher  in  this  or  any  other  department  of 
knowledge.  I  was  rather  his  companion  in  study;  but 
was  ever  ready  to  communicate  to  others  the  facts  of  my 


28  MEMOIROF 

own  reading.  I  was  about  half  a  dozen  years  older  than 
he,  and  had  been  about  that  time  in  the  ministry,  when  I 
first  knew  him ;  but  then,  the  idea  of  teaching-  theology  to 
any  one,  was  far  from  my  thoughts.  I  do  remember,  how- 
ever, that  at  his  earnest  request,  I  prescribed  a  course  of 
reading  in  theology;  and  the  impression  of  the  fact  was 
rendered  indelible  in  my  mind,  by  an  incident  of  a  some- 
what remarkable  kind,  which  I  will  relate.  Among  the 
books  to  be  perused,  was  Dr.  Samuel  Clarke's  Demonstra- 
tion of  the  Being  and  Attributes  of  God.  The  effect 
which  the  reading  of  this  able  work  had  on  his  mind,  I 
can  never  forget.  It  plunged  him  into  the  abyss  of  scepti- 
cism. It  drove  him  almost  to  distraction.  I  never  con- 
templated a  powerful  mind  in  such  a  state  of  desolation. 
For  a  day  or  two,  his  perturbation  was  overwhelming  and 
alarming.  But  in  a  few  days,  effectual  relief  was  obtained ; 
but  in  what  particular  way,  I  am,  at  this  distance  of  time, 
unable  to  state ;  except,  that  the  difficulties  which  he  expe- 
rienced were  not  overcome  by  reasoning,  or  any  human 
means;  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  through  prayer.  I  do 
not  pretend  to  explain  how  the  perusal  of  this  work  of  pro- 
found argument  should  have  produced  such  an  effect.  I 
merely  state  an  interesting  fact,  from  which  every  reader 
may  draw  his  own  conclusions."  My  correspondent  adds : 
"  It  is  now  my  impression,  that  this  occurrence  interrupted 
the  theological  studies  of  our  deceased  friend."  If  it  did 
so,  however,  it  was  probably  only  for  a  short  time ;  and 
he  soon  resumed  them,  I  suppose,  with  new  zeal  and 
spirit ;  and,  no  doubt,  with  a  wise  resolution  to  avoid  per- 
plexing himself  with  such  writers  again.  I  may  observe,  too,  i 
that  the  course  of  reading  prescribed  by  his  friend,  was  i 
very  liberal,  especially  for  that  period ;  and  such  a  one  as  { 
it  required  no  ordinary  diligence  and  patience  to  pursue.  ? 
It  accorded,  however,  entirely  with  his  own  views,  and  ; 
with  his  earnest  desire  to  lay  a  broad  foundation  for  his  1 1 
future  use,  when  he  should  come  to  preach  the  gospel.  ^ 


DOCTORRICE.  29 

At  t^.e  same  time,  we  may  be  sure,  he  was  now  more 
than  ever  careful  to  cultivate  that  personal  piety  which  he 
justly  regarded  as  a  primary  and  indispensable  qualification 
for  a  teacher  of  the  word  of  God ;  and  the  following  letter 
which  he  wrote  about  this  period  to  his  confidential  friend, 
may  serve  to  show  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  reading  the 
sacred  scriptures  with  a  wise  reference  and  application  of 
its  lessons  to  his  own  heart  and  life. 

TO  MRS.  MARY  MORTON. 

H.  S.  College,  March  29th,  1801. 
My  dear  Mrs.  Morton, — My  friend  Speece  is  very  un- 
well to-day,  or  I  would  have  been  with  you.  I  have  been 
doctoring  him  as  well  as  I  could,  and  I  hope  he  will  be 
better.  He  is  now  asleep,  and  I  am  tired  of  reading :  so  I 
will  sit  down  and  talk  with  you,  or  at  you  rather,  as  Judy 
says.     But  I  had  much  rather  see  you. 

I  have  for  some  days  past  suffered  much  anxiety  with 
regard  to  my  future  prospects.  The  possibility  of  many 
events  which  would  give  me  much  uneasiness,  would  rush 
into  my  mind.  I  could  think  of  nothing  else.  In  the 
midst  of  these  thoughts,  I  one  day  took  up  my  Bible,  and 
carelessly  opened  it,  when  the  following  passage  struck  my 
eye.  "  Now  the  disciples  had  forgotten  to  take  bread," 
&c.;  and  my  heart  smote  me  when  I  read  it.  The  disci- 
ples had  seen  repeated  instances  of  the  power  of  the 
Saviour.  They  ought  to  have  known,  that  with  him  they 
could  want  nothing  which  they  ought  to  have.  But  still, 
they  were  faithless  and  unbelieving ;  they  did  not  wider- 
stand  I  too  have  had  repeated  proofs  of  the  goodness  and 
power  of  God.  Several  times  have  I  been  rescued  from 
the  jaws  of  death.  My  life  has  been  crowned  with  loving 
kindness  and  mercy.  The  Lord  has  showered  his  com- 
forts about  my  paths  and  about  my  bed.  And  still  I  am 
faithless  and  unbelieving.  Still  I  do  not  put  that  reliance 
upon  the  mercy  and  faithfulness  of  God  ;  I  do  not  feel  that 
H 


30  MEMOIROF 

trust  and  confidence  in  his  promise  that  I  ought.  O  my 
friend,  I  am  an  unworthy  creature.  What  right  have  I  to 
complain  ?  I,  who  deserve  not  any  favour  at  the  hand  of 
God ;  who  deserve  everlasting  wo  and  misery.  I,  who, 
though  thus  unworthy,  have  been  favoured  above  many  of 
my  fellows.  Ah!  how  ungrateful  is  my  heart !  How  for- 
getful of  God.  But  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  will  endeavour 
to  understand.  I  will  try  to  remember.  1  will  endeavour 
to  exercise  more  patience,  more  resignation,  and  a  firmer 
, trust  in  his  gracious  promises.  And  if  I  am  not  as  happy 
as  I  wish  to  be,  I  will  reflect  how  unworthy  I  am ;  and 
bless  God  that  I  enjoy  one  single  comfort." 

To  this  evidence  that  he  was  growing  in  piety,  I  may 
add  the  more  positive  testimony  of  Dr.  Alexander,  who 
says,  *' In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1801,  I  recollect  dis- 
tinctly, there  appeared  to  be  a  great  increase  of  the  strength 
of  religious  feeling  in  him  ;  and  he  seemed  to  experience 
great  satisfaction,  and  to  manifest  much  sensibility,  in  hear- 
ing the  word,  and  in  attending  on  religious  exercises." 

In  the  meantime,  in  spite  of  his  wise  resolution  to  the 
contrary,  he  had  renewed  his  visits  to  Willington,  which, 
some  how  or  other,  were  now  becoming  more  and  more 
frequent,  and,  we  may  suppose,  more  and  more  agreeable. 
It  appears,  indeed,  that  the  young  lady,  who  was  doubtless 
the  chief  attraction  of  the  place,  (though  he  probably  did 
not  own  it  even  to  himself,)  seeing  him  now  in  his  proper 
light,  was  gradually,  and  almost  unconsciously,  becoming 
sensible  that  he  was  really  as  amiable  as  she  had  all  along 
admitted  that  he  was  worthy;  and,  all  obstacles  to  his  happi- 
ness being  now  removed,  we  learn  that,  on  the  9th  of  July, 
1802,  he  married  Miss  Anne  Smith  Morton,  and  imme- 
diately afterwards  took  her  home  to  a  small  dwelling-house, 
which  the  good  major  had  provided  for  them  near  the 
college. 

In  the  following  spring,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1803,  being 
too  much  indisposed  to  attend  in  person,  he  applied,  by  a 


DOCTORRICE.  31 

friend  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  then  holding  their 
session  in  that  county,  to  be  taken  under  their  care,  as  a 
candidate  for  licensure ;  informing  them,  at  the  same  time, 
that  he  had  prepared  some  trial  pieces,  upon  subjects  which 
Mr.  Alexander  had  assigned  him,  which  he  had  intended  to 
submit  to  them,  if  his  sickness  had  not  prevented  him; 
upon  which  the  Presbytery,  willing  to  favour  his  views, 
and  expedite  his  entrance  into  the  ministry,  appointed  a 
committee,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  McRoberts,  Lacy, 
Alexander,  and  Lyle,  ministers,  and  Messrs.  James  Allen, 
Nathan  Price,  and  James  Morton,  elders,  to  meet  after 
their  adjournment,  to  examine  and  receive  him.  The 
committee,  accordingly,  met  in  July  following,  in  the  col- 
lege chapel,  and  having  duly  examined  him,  and  heard  his 
trial  pieces,  which  they  sustained,  readily  received  him  as  a 
candidate  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery;  and,  assigning 
him  other  subjects  for  his  further  trial,  directed  him  to 
attend  the  ensuing  meeting  of  that  body,  to  which  they 
were  to  report  their  proceedings.  Accordingly,  he  attended 
the  session  of  the  Presbytery,  which  was  held  in  the  Cove 
meeting-house,  in  Albemarle,  on  the  8th  of  September  fol- 
lowing, (1803,)  when  he  read  an  exercise,  and  the  day 
after  delivered  a  sermon,  both  of  which  were  approved. 
Some  days  afterwards,  to  wit,  on  the  12th  of  September, 
1803,  the  Presbytery,  after  due  examination,  solemnly 
licensed  him  to  preach  the  gospel  in  their  bounds,  and 
wherever  he  should  be  orderly  called  ;  and,  at  the  same 
time,  appointed  him  to  supply  one  Sabbath  at  Walker's 
church,  one  Sabbath  at  Cub  Creek,  in  Charlotte,  and  one 
Sabbath  at  Rough  Creek,  in  Prince  Edward ;  leaving  the 
rest  of  his  time  at  discretion.-^ 

He  proceeded,  accordingly,  to  preach  to  these  congrega- 

*  We  learn  from  a  note  in  his  memorandum  book,  that  the  cere- 
mony of  his  licensure  was  performed  by  the  Rev.  James  Robinson, 
the  worthy  pastor  of  the  Cove  church,  in  Albemarle. 


32  MEMOIROF 

tions  during  the  ensuing  fall  and  winter,  and  with  some 
acceptance.  At  first,  indeed,  and  for  some  time  afterwards, 
we  are  told  that  his  preaching  was  not  very  popular.  "  His 
discourses,"  says  Dr.  Alexander,  "  when  he  first  engaged 
in  public  preaching,  were  principally  argumentative,  and 
especially  directed  to  the  demonstration  of  the  truth  of  the 
christian  religion,  and  its  vindication  from  the  objections  of 
infidels.  He  was  naturally  led  into  this  strain  of  preaching, 
by  the  prevalence  of  deistical  opinions  in  that  country,  for 
several  years  preceding.  His  sermons,  therefore,  were  not, 
at  first,  suited  to  the  taste,  nor  adapted  to  the  edification  of 
the  common  people ;  but  they  were  calculated  to  raise  his 
reputation  as  a  man  of  learning  and  abilities,  with  men  of 
information  and  discernment."  At  the  same  time,  it  appears 
that  he  commanded  the  respect,  and  gained  the  confidence 
of  all  who  heard  him;  and  the  congregation  of  Cub  Creek, 
particularly,  were  so  well  satisfied  with  his  labours  among 
them,  that  they  soon  became  desirous  of  obtaining  him  for 
their  pastor.  Accordingly,  at  the  ensuing  session  of  the 
Presbytery  which  was  held  at  the  college  on  the  5th  of 
April,  1804,  they  presented  a  call  to  him  by  the  moderator, 
desiring  his  services  for  three  fourths  of  his  time,  which  he 
thought  proper  to  accept;  and  the  Presbytery,  thereupon, 
passed  an  order  declaring  that  they  would  ordain  him  at 
their  following  meeting. 

After  this,  he  continued  to  preach  to  the  congregation  till 
the  subsequent  session  of  the  Presbytery  which  was  held  at 
Cub  Creek,  on  the  28th  of  September,  1 804,  when  he  preach- 
ed his  trial  sermon,  which  was  sustained.  The  next  day, 
the  29th,  the  Presbytery  being  now  fully  satisfied  of  his 
competency  for  the  pastoral  office,  proceeded  to  ordain  him, 
when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Alexander  preached  the  sermon  from 
Acts  XX.  28,  after  which,  he  was  solemnly  ordained  to  the 
whole  work  of  the  gospel  ministry,  "  by  the  laying  on  of  the 
hands  of  the  Presbytery,"  in  the  usual  form ;  and,  after  a 
charge  to  him  by  the  Rev.  Drury  Lacy,  he  took  his  seat  as 


DOCTOR     RICE. 


33 


a  member  of  the  body.  AVe  can  easily  imagine  what  his 
feelings  must  have  been  on  this  important  and  interesting 
occasion  ;  and  we  have  a  brief  record  of  them  by  his  own 
pen,  in  a  small  book  which  he  left  entitled  "  List  of  Texts," 
&c.  in  these  words:  "Sept.  28,  Cub  Creek.  Gen.  iii.  4. 
This  was  a  trial  sermon  ;  and  on  the  29th  day  of  this  month, 
I  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry.  Solemn  and 
awful  was  the  transaction !  Important  the  office !  And, 
alas,  my  weakness !  May  God  be  my  strength,  my  coun- 
sellor, my  guide !" 

He  was  now  regularly  pastor  of  the  Cub  Creek  congre- 
gation ;  but  still  retained  his  connexion  with  the  college,  and 
his  residence  near  it,  for  some  time  longer;  only  visiting  his 
flock  on  Saturdays,  and  preaching  to  them  on  Sundays ;  and 
returning  on  the  Monday  mornings  to  his  class.  Finding, 
however,  that  this  arrangement  was  very  inconvenient,  and 
desiring  to  be  in  the  midst  of  his  people,  he  resigned  his 
office  of  tutor  about  the  latter  end  of  the  year,  (1804,)  and 
removed  with  his  family  to  a  small  farm  which  he  had 
bought,  by  the  aid  of  his  good  friend  major  Morton,  in  the 
county  of  Charlotte,  about  six  miles  beyond  the  court  house  ; 
where  he  set  himself  to  work  to  repair  the  house,  and  plant 
trees  about  it ;  and  began  to  cultivate  a  few  acres  of  ground 
by  the  hands  of  some  slaves  whom  the  major  had  given  him 
for  the  service.  At  the  same  time,  apprehending  that  his 
small  salary,  which  was  only  about  four  hundred  dollars  a 
year,  would  hardly  be  sufficient  to  support  his  family,  and 
hoping  also  to  make  himself  more  useful  by  it,  he  opened  a 
small^school  for  boys,  and  soon  had  about  twenty  of  them 
under  his  care,  of  whom  about  three  fourths  were  boarders 
with  him  in  his  house. 

The  field  of  our  pastor's  duty  was  now  extensive,  and  his 
labours  in  it  were  arduous  and  unremitted.  The  people 
composing  the  congregation  of  Cub  Creek  were  scattered 
over  the  whole  county  of  Charlotte,  and  worshipped  at  three 
different  preaching  places,  to  wit:  Cub  Creek,  the  Court  House 


34  M  EM  O  I  R     O  F 

and  Bethesda,  which  last  was  a  meeting  house  that  had  been 
built  expressly  for  him,  about  a  mile  from  his  own  dwelling. 
He  preached,  accordingljs  at  all  these  places  ;  at  Cub  Creek 
on  the  second  and  fourth  Sundays,  at  the  Court  House  on 
the  first,  and  at  Bethesda,  on  the  fourth  Sunday  in  every 
month.  The  church,  properly  speaking,  when  he  first  took 
charge  of  it,  consisted  of  fifty-eight  white  communicants, 
and  fifty-five  blacks,  besides  baptized  children  ;  but  the  num- 
ber soon  increased  under  his  ministry,  and  the  common  con- 
gregation of  hearers,  especially  at  Cub  Creek,  usually  amount- 
ed to  four  or  five  hundred  persons,  of  whom  about  one-fifth 
were  people  of  colour. 

In  performing  his  ministerial  duty,  his  usual  course  was 
to  leave  home  on  Friday  evening,  after  school,  or  on  Satur- 
day morning,  after  breakfast,  and  visit  different  parts  of  his 
congregation,  in  order ;  and  hold  meetings  for  catechising 
the  young,  and  conversing  with  his  elders  and  others,  at 
appointed  places,  and  preach  to  the  people  on  Sunday;  re- 
turning home  the  same  evening,  or  early  next  morning,  in 
time  to  open  his  school  again  at  the  regular  hour.  At  Cub 
Creek,  he  generally  preached  two  sermons  on  the  Sabbath ; 
the  first  to  the  whites,  and  the  second,  more  particularly,  to 
the  blacks — though  many  persons  chose  to  stay  and  hear 
both. 

In  his  preaching,  which  was  now  becoming  more  popular, 
he  aimed  to  be  as  practical  as  possible ;  and  to  carry  his 
discourse  home  to  the  "  business  and  bosoms"  of  his  hear- 
ers. He  was  always  particularly  careful,  too,  to  teach  the 
doctrines  and  duties  of  religion  together,  and  to  show  their 
intimate  connexion  with  each  other.  Thus,  while  he  incul- 
cated the  cardinal  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  alone,  he 
was  equally  strenuous  in  urging  and  insisting  upon  the  duty 
of  maintaining  good  works,  which  are  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit ; 
and  that  not  only  as  evidences  of  faith,  but  as  things  which 
were  both  useful  to  men,  and  pleasing  to  God.  He  laboured, 
also,  very  properly,  to  adapt  his  instructions,  as  far  as  he 


DOCTORRICE.  35 

could,  to  the  actual  state  of  things  about  him  ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, did  not  hesitate  to  attack  the  vices  and  follies  which 
he  saw  every  day  before  his  eyes.  In  doing  this,  we  are 
told,  he  would  occasionally  give  examples,  and  draw  charac- 
ters, by  way  of  illustration,  which  were  so  true  to  nature, 
that  he  was  sometimes  suspected  of  being  personal  in  his 
pictures  ;  though  he  was  always  duly  careful  to  avoid  being 
so  in  fact;  and,  as  far  as  possible,  even  in  appearance. 

We  are  informed,  moreover,  that  the  coloured  members 
of  his  church  were  always  objects  of  his  special  notice  and 
attention.  He  had  considered,  it  seems,  with  much  reflec- 
tion, the  peculiar  cast  of  their  minds,  growing  out  of  their 
condition  and  circumstances,  their  ignorance,  and  habits  of 
life ;  and  felt  particularly  anxious  to  guard  them  against 
that  passion  for  excitement,  and  consequent  proneness  to 
fanaticism,  which  had  become  almost  a  part  of  their  nature  ; 
and  which  he  thought  had  been  too  often  stimulated  to  dan- 
gerous excesses  by  injudicious  preaching.  His  aim,  there- 
fore, was  to  give  them  sound  and  rational  instruction  from 
the  ^vord  of  God ;  adapted,  however,  of  course,  to  their 
capacities,  and  suited  to  their  actual  state ;  and  he  was  par- 
ticularly careful  to  insist  upon  their  serving  their  masters 
with  all  fidelity,  as  well  as  behaving  humbly  to  one  another ; 
and  the  freedom  and  authority  with  which  he  discoursed  to 
them  on  these  topics,  gave  him  great  power  over  them.  At 
the  same  time,  he  was  mindful  to  maintain  that  watchful 
discipline  which  he  knew  they  particularly  needed,  and 
without  which  his  preaching  would  have  produced  but  little 
effect  upon  their  conduct.  To  aid  him  in  this  part  of  his 
duty,  he  had  four  or  five  black  men,  selected  from  the  rest 
tor  their  superior  piety  and  intelligence,  called  watchmen, 
and  whose  business  it  was  to  look  after  them,  and  report 
their  behaviour,  from  time  to  time,  to  him,  or  some  other 
member  of  the  session,  who  might  be  more  immediately  at 
hand.  This  class  of  helps,  by  the  way,  he  found,  had 
been  instituted  by  Mr.  Davies,  to   whose   congregation  in 


36  MEMOIROF 

Hanover  some  of  the  slaves  had  originally  been  attached, 
when  they  belonged  to  colonel  Byrd's  estate,  from  which 
they  had  been  sold  and  brought  into  this  county ;  and  he 
felt  much  satisfaction  in  maintaining  it,  both  from  his  great 
reverence  for  that  eminent  man,  and  from  his  own  experi- 
ence of  its  benefit. 

The  result  of  all  this  care  was  that  many  of  the  black 
members  of  his  church  vv^ere  distinguished  beyond  all  their 
fellows  for  their  true  piety  and  good  conduct,  and  reflected 
honour  upon  their  pastor,  in  the  eyes  of  their  masters,  and 
all  about  them.  Some  of  their  owners,  indeed,  we  are  told, 
were  so  sensible  of  the  happy  influence  of  his  labours  in 
this  way,  that,  although  they  were  not  members  of  his 
congregation,  they  yet  contributed  freely  and  liberally  to 
his  support.  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  add,  too,  that 
the  slaves  themselves  became  warmly  attached  to  him, 
and  showed  their  aff'ection  for  him  by  many  little  atten- 
tions, which  were  particularly  grateful  to  his  feelings. 
Thus,  on  Sundays,  when  he  came  to  the  meeting-house, 
the  men  would  vie  with  each  other  in  stepping  out  to  take 
his  horse;  and  the  women  would  present  him  an  apple,  or 
some  other  little  token  of  their  regard,  which  they  had  laid 
by  for  him,  and  which  he  would  receive  from  their  hands 
with  a  kindness  and  condescension  that  endeared  him  still 
more  to  their  simple  hearts.  After  service,  too,  they  would 
walk  briskly  on  by  his  chair,  as  he  drove  slowly  along  the 
road,  for  some  distance,  to  hear  a  litde  more  from  his  lips  ; 
while  he  would  continue  talking  with  them  in  the  most 
free  and  friendly  way,  until  the  want  of  time  would  compel 
him  to  drive  on,  and  leave  them  behind.* 

*  I  find  him  afterwards  testifying-  himself,  concerning-  these  people 
of  colour,  of  the  Cub  Creek  church,  as  follows:  "  Of  these,  a  very 
large  proportion  can  read,  and  are  instructed  in  religious  doctrines 
and  duties,  beyond  many  professors  among  white  people.  And  they 
afford  an  experiment  of  sixty  or  seventy  years  standing,  of  the  effect 
of  this  sort  of  discipline  among  slaves.     And  we  confidently  state  the 


DOCTORRICE.  37 

In  addition  to  all  these  services,  he  held  a  prayer-meeting 
every  Thursday  evening,  at  some  private  house,  (usually 
the  house  of  a  Mr.  Stephen  Bedford,)  where  he  gave  a 
short  lecture  on  some  interesting  passage  of  scripture ;  or 
introduced  such  other  exercises  as  he  thought  might  be 
useful,  and  which  he  varied  from  time  to  time,  to  make 
them  more  attractive.  He  made  it  a  point,  also,  to  visit 
his  friends  and  neighbours,  as  often  as  his  necessary  atten- 
tion to  his  school  would  permit,  and  always  aimed  to  give 
the  conversation  a  religious,  or,  at  least,  a  serious  turn. 
He  had,  indeed,  as  he  was  sensible,  but  a  poor  talent  for 
talking;  but  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty,  as  a  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel, to  use  it  all  for  the  best  purpose.  He  exerted  himself, 
moreover,  to  excite  and  diffuse  a  taste  for  reading  among  the 
members  of  his  congregation,  and  especially  the  young  peo- 
ple ;  which  he  thought  would  prepare  their  minds  to  receive 
more  advantage  from  his  preaching.  And,  with  a  view  to 
further  this  object,  and  to  supply  the  want  of  books  which 
he  found  in  many  families,  he  prevailed  upon  a  number  of 
the  best  informed  gentlemen  in  the  county,  lawyers  and 
others,  to  establish  a  public  library  to  be  kept  at  the  court 
house ;  from  which  he  hoped  that  all  would  receive  much 
benefit. 

In  the  management  of  his  school,  he  endeavoured  to 
teach  his  pupils  not  only  the  Greek  and  Latin  languages, 
which,  (together  with  arithmetic  and  geography,)  were  the 
chief  branches  that  he  taught ;  but  also  the  leading  doctrines 
and  precepts  of  the  christian  religion,  which  he  thought  an 
indispensable  part  of  all  sound  education;  and  he  was,  of 

result  to  be  more  industry,  fidelity,  and  submissiveness ;  less  intem- 
perance, dishonesty,  lying-,  and  laziness,  than  are  to  be  found  among 
an  equal  number  of  this  class  in  any  other  part  of  the  country.  This 
has  been  so  notorious,  that  the  owners  of  these  slaves  have  been  com- 
pelled to  acknowledge,  that  the  services  of  the  preachers  were  more 
profitable  than  those  of  all  the  overseers  ever  employed  by  them." — 
See  Virginia  Evan.  &  Lit.  Mag.  vol.  ii.  p.  202-3. 

5 


38  MEMOIROF 

course,  duly  careful  to  watch  over  their  conduct  and  be- 
haviour, as  well  as  over  their  progress  in  their  studies.  In 
this  manner,  he  was  forming  the  minds  and  hearts  of  a  num- 
ber of  young  gentlemen,  who  were  destined  to  become  use- 
ful members  of  society,  and  do  honour  to  his  instructions  by 
their  conduct  in  after  life. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  fame  of  his  piety  and  talents  was 
spreading  itself  abroad,  and  not  only  the  parents  and  rela- 
tives of  his  pupils,  and  the  members  of  his  congregation,  but 
others  also,  and  among  them  some  gentlemen  of  standing  and 
influence,  were  pleased  to  cultivate  his  acquaintance.  This, 
of  course,  gave  him  new  opportunities  of  usefulness,  which, 
we  may  be  sure,  he  was  careful  to  improve.  Indeed,  we 
must  observe,  that  he  had  learned  by  this  time  to  mingle 
more  freely  with  his  fellow  men,  and  to  feel  a  more  general 
sympathy  with  them  in  all  their  interests  and  concerns ;  and 
the  kind  and  conciliatory  deportment  which  he  now  consci- 
entiously and  habitually  observed  towards  all  persons,  that 
he  might  hy  all  means  win  their  souls,  gained  him  many 
friends  for  himself,  and  some  (whom  he  valued  still  more) 
for  his  Master. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1805,  the  Synod  of  Virginia, 
of  which  he  was,  of  course,  a  member,  thought  proper  to 
establish  a  periodical  work,  under  the  title  of  the  Virginia 
Religious  Magazine,  for  the  purpose  of  communicating  reli- 
gious truth  and  intelligence  to  the  people  under  their  care  ; 
and  conscious  of  his  talent  for  writing,  and  always  ready  to 
use  it  in  a  good  cause,  he  felt  himself  called  upon,  in  con- 
junction with  his  friends  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Speece,  to 
furnish  various  articles  for  its  pages ;  among  which  were 
several  Essays  on  Infidelity,  an  Abridgment  of  Leslie's 
Short  and  Easy  Method,  an  Account  of  Mr.  Jervas,  (an  im- 
aginary character)  in  several  numbers,  and  some  others  ;  all 
of  which  were  marked  by  much  good  sense,  and  written  in 
a  pure  and  natural  style.* 

*  As  some  of  my  readers  may  perhaps  like  to  see  a  small  sample 


DOCTORRICE.  39 

We  are  now  brought  to  the  commencement  of  an  impor- 
tant and  interesting  movement  of  our  Southern  church,  in 
which  Mr.  Rice  appears  to  have  taken  a  leading  part,  and  in 
the  promotion  and  final  completion  of  which,  (as  we  shall 

of  the  productions  of  his  pen  at  this  period  of  his  life,  I  have  selected 
a  short  passage  from  one  of  his  pieces,  in  which  he  gives  us  some 
sketches  of  his  two  friends  mentioned  above,  under  ficticious  names,  but 
in  terms  too  just  and  distinct  to  be  mistaken,  as  follows:  "The  eldest  of 
them,"  (whom  he  calls  Paulinus,  but  who  is  evidently  Mr.  Alexander,) 
"had  been  a  preacher  ten  or  fifteen  years,  is  endowed  with  faculties  of 
the  highest  kind,  and  has  cultivated  them  with  great  assiduity.  No 
man  of  his  age  has  greater  extent  or  variety  of  information.  His 
powers  are  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  investigation  of  truth.  With  a 
sound  judgment,  a  vigorous  understanding,  a  quick  perception,  a 
great  compass  of  thought,  he  has  the  capacity  of  holding  his  mind  in 
suspense,  until  a  subject  is  viewed  in  all  its  bearings  and  relations, 
and  until  the  rays  of  evidence,  however  widely  they  are  dissipated, 
are  all  brought  to  a  focus  on  the  point  under  investigation.  Possess- 
ing such  intellectual  powers  as  these,  he  is  animated  with  a  love  of 
truth,  and  thirst  after  knowledge,  which  prompts  to  unwearied  dili- 
gence in  research,  and  unremitting  application  to  study.  His  know- 
ledge then  must  be  considerable.  His  taste  is  refined,  his  imagina- 
tion rich  in  imagery,  his  elocution  copious,  and  his  trains  of  reason- 
ing are  close  and  logical ;  his  eye  sparkles  with  intelligence,  and  his 
voice  is  melodious  as  the  notes  of  the  nightingale.  But  in  addition  to 
all  these  excellencies,  he  is  remarkably  modest;  it  is  impossible  for 
you  to  be  in  his  company  without  seeing  his  superiority,  and  yet  such 
is  his  modesty,  that  it  gives  you  no  pain  to  acknowledge  it." 

"  The  second,"  ("  Philander,"  or  Mr.  Speece,)  "  is  a  younger  man, 
and  a  younger  minister.  He  also  possesses  real  genius.  The  most 
remarkable  quality  of  his  mind  is  vigour;  in  argumentation  he  re- 
minds one  of  the  Ajax  of  Homer,  armed  with  his  mace  of  iron,  and 
at  every  vibration  overthrowing  whole  troops  of  Trojans.  His  con- 
ception is  very  clear;  and,  of  course,  he  is  perspicuous,  precise,  and 
fluent  in  his  elocution.  From  the  comparison  just  used,  however,  it 
is  not  to  be  supposed  that  there  is  any  thing  of  coarseness  in  his 
mind.  Far  from  it.  His  imagination  is  delicate,  and  his  taste  re- 
fined." He  adds  :  "  The  piety  of  both  these  gentlemen  is  warm  and 
unaffected.  They  have  hearts  formed  for  friendship.  Possessing  the 
highest  talents,  and  the  best  means  of  information  that  Virginia  could 


40  M  E  M  O  I  R      O  F 

see  hereafter,)  he  was  undoubtedly  more  active  and  efficient 
than  any  other  man.  This  was  the  resolution  to  establish 
what  we  may  call  a  Theological  Seminary  for  Virginia,  and 
the  South,  (and  the  idea  of  which  probably  first  originated 
with  the  three  friends  whom  we  have  so  often  mentioned  to- 
gether ;)  for  it  appears  that  at  the  session  of  the  body  which 
was  held  in  April,  1806,  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  "taking 
into  consideration  the  deplorable  state  of  our  country  as  to 
religious  instruction ;  the  very  small  number  of  ministers 
possessing  the  qualifications  required  by  Scripture ;  and  the 
prevalence  of  ignorance  and  error ;"  resolved  : 

1.  "That  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  establish  at 
Hampden  Sydney  College,  a  complete  Theological  Library 
for  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  already  engaged  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  or  who  may  hereafter  devote  them- 
selves to  that  sacred  employment,"  and 

2.  "That  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  establish  a  fund 
for  the  purpose  of  educating  poor  and  pious  youth  for  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel." 

And  they  appointed  Messrs.  Archibald  Alexander,  Mat- 
thew Lyle,  Conrad  Speece,  and  John  H.  Rice,  ministers, 
and  Messrs.  James  Morton,  Robert  Quarles,  and  James 
Daniel,  elders,  a  standing  committee  to  carry  the  resolutions 
into  effect. 

At  the  same  time,  it  was  ordered  that  the  address,  which  had 
been  offered  along  with  the  resolutions,  and  adopted,  should 
be  made  public  in  any  manner  that  the  committee  should 
direct,  and  that  the  funds  which  might  be  raised  by  them 
should  be  vested  in  the  trustees  of  Hampden  Sydney  Col- 
lege, subject,  however,  at  all  times,  to  the  control  and  dis- 
posal of  the  Presbytery. 

afford,  they  would  have  been  capable  of  filling  any  office,  and  might 
have  risen  to  the  first  eminence  in  the  state.  But  such  was  their 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  that  they  left  all  and  followed  him." — 
A  Conversation  at  Mr.  Jervas's.  Virginia  Religious  Magazine,  vol. 
iii.  p.  170-1. 


DOCTORRICE.  41 

The  committee  met  shortly  afterwards,  to  wit  on  the  30th 
of  April,  1806,  and  appointed  Mr.  Rice  a  special  agent  to 
solicit  donations  in  books  and  money  for  the  objects  proposed, 
throughout  the  whole  state  ;  upon  which,  full  of  zeal  to  dis- 
charge the  duty  thus  assigned  him,  he  repaired  to  Richmond, 
and  afterwards  proceeded  to  Norfolk,  to  obtain  the  aid  of  the 
pious  and  well-disposed  in  those  places,  in  behalf  of  the  in- 
fant institution  which  was  now  to  be  formed.  What  he  did 
in  Richmond  at  this  time,  I  have  not  ascertained ;  though  I 
suppose  that  he  made  some  small  collections ;  but  at  Nor- 
folk, where  he  was  very  kindly  received  by  the  Rev.  Mr, 
Grigsby,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  bo- 
rough, it  appears  from  a  memorandum  of  his  own,  that  he 
preached  on  the  third  Sabbath  of  May,  (1806,)  from  Rom.  i. 
16  ;  and  it  was  on  this  occasion,  I  remember,  that  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  and  hearing  him  for  the  first  time.  There 
was  nothing,  however,  as  far  as  I  can  recollect,  that  was 
very  striking  or  peculiar  in  his  appearance,  or  style  of  preach- 
ing, at  that  period  of  his  life  ;  and  certainly  nothing  fine  or 
fascinating  in  his  manner.  He  stood  up  in  the  pulpit  at  his 
full  height,  and  being  rather  thinner  than  he  afterwards  be- 
came, appeared  to  be  very  tall.  His  voice,  too,  was  a  little 
hard  and  dry,  and  his  action  (what  there  was  of  it)  was  by  no 
means  graceful.  His  sermon,  however,  I  thought  was  full 
of  solid  and  valuable  matter  ;  and  it  was  heard,  I  believe, 
with  interest  by  all  who  could  appreciate  its  merit. 

After  service,  he  announced  the  object  of  his  visit  to  our 
borough,  and  stated  that  he  would  wait  on  the  members  of 
the  congregation  generally,  in  the  course  of  the  week, 
when  he  hoped  that  he  should  find  them  disposed  to  give 
liberally  to  the  important  and  interesting  undertaking  in 
which  he  v/as  engaged.  He  came  about  among  us,  accord- 
ingly, accompanied  by  Mr.  Grigsby,  (whose  polished  man- 
ners sensibly  aided  his  applications,)  and  he  succeeded,  I 
believe,  in  raising  about  two  hundred  dollars,  mostly  in 
small  sums  of  five  and  ten  dollars,  with  which  he  appeared 

5* 


42  MEMOIROF 

to   be   well   satisfied;    regarding  it,  no  doubt,  as  only  an 
earnest  of  future  and  more  liberal  contributions. 

Among  the  rest,  I  was  myself  favoured  with  a  call  from 
him  on  this  occasion,  and  had  some  little  conversation  with 
him,  when  I  found  that,  though  he  was  not  very  chatty,  he 
could  yet  talk  well  and  agreeably  upon  the  subjects  of 
letters  and  religion.  His  good  nature,  too,  as  it  struck  me, 
and  his  affectionate  disposition,  were  quite  apparent,  and 
very  pleasing ;  and  it  was  impossible,  I  thought,  to  see  and 
hear  him  without  being  satisfied  that  he  was  a  good  man* 
and  much  engaged  in  his  work. 

After  this  visitation,  he  preached  again  for  us  on  the  fol- 
lov/ing  Sabbath;  and,  having  now  fulfilled  his  mission  in 
Norfolk,  returned  home,  by  the  way  of  Williamsburg. 
Here,  I  suppose,  he  continued  to  keep  the  object  of  his 
agency  in  view,  and,  no  doubt,  made  collections  for  it  as  he 
could.  I  am  not  informed,  indeed,  of  the  extent  of  his 
efforts  in  tl.is  way;  but  I  think  it  probable,  that,  besides 
addressing  the  friends  of  the  enterprise  in  his  own  neigh- 
bourhood, as  opportunities  offered,  he  also  visited  other 
counties,  and,  I  presume,  with  some  success.  I  find  at 
least,  from  a  letter  which  he  wrote  to  his  friend  Nicholas 
Cabell,  Esq.,  of  Amherst,  dated  the  24th  of  June,  1806, 
that  he  was  preparing  to  visit  the  good  people  of  that 
county,  to  receive  their  contributions  to  his  infant  semi- 
nary, as  we  may  conclude  that  he  did ;  and  it  is  highly 
probable,  that  he  applied  to  the  friends  of  the  cause  in 
other  counties  also;  and,  we  may  hope,  with  good  effect. 

On  the  last  day  of  this  year,  (1806)  our  pastor  began  to 
keep  a  diary,  which  is  now  before  me.  It  begins  with  the 
outline  of  a  plan  for  the  regulation  of  his  future  conduct, 
both  in  private  and  public,  and  proceeds  afterwards  to  give 
us  his  views  and  feelings  on  some  particular  days,  during  the 
period  of  three  months  only,  when  it  ends.  I  shall  give  a 
few  extracts  from  this  document  which  may  serve  to  show 


DOCTOR     RICE. 


43 


the  cast  of  his  character,  and  the  tenor  of  his  Ufe,  at  this 
time,  in  the  most  confidential  and  satisfactory  manner. 

Wednesday,  Dec.  31. — This  was  the  day  appointed  by 
the  Synod  of  Virginia  for  a  fast-day.  Preached  C.  C.  Amos 
iii.  5.  Shall  there  be  evil  in  a  city,  and  the  Lord  hath  not 
done  it?  1.  Particular  Providence.  2.  Evils  which  wc 
suffer  a  proof  that  the  Lord  is  angry  with  us.  3.  Urge  to 
repentance.  Felt  anxious  for  the  state  of  the  church ;  but 
not  those  thrilling  emotions  which  I  sometimes  feel ;  but 
little  of  that  humiliation  for  my  own  sins  which  so  well 
becomes  me.  O  Lord,  [  beseech  thee  grant  unto  me  that 
deep  sense  of  my  own^unworthiness  which  will  always  keep 
me  humble  before  thee. 

Ja?i'y4, 1807. — In  the  morning,  and  going  to  sermon,  en- 
deavoured to  prepare  my  mind  in  some  measure  for  the 
duties  of  the  day ;  but  was  very  much  perplexed  by  wan- 
dering thoughts.  Preached  from  Eccels.  ix.  10.  WJiatever 
thy  handfindeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might.  Necessity  of 
industry  both  in  temporal  and  spiritual  concerns,  especially 
the  latter  from  their  importance,  their  variety,  the  shortness 
of  our  time,  and  the  certainty  of  success  in  them  if  we  are 
dihgent.  Felt  anxious  for  Zion ;  but  little  affection.  May 
God  grant  that  I  may  use  all  diligence  in  the  discharge  of 
duty.  May  I  lay  home  the  exhortations  to  my  own  heart 
which  I  gave  to  my  people. 

Monday,  5. — Went  to  court  and  felt  little  of  religion ; 
thoughts  wandering  and  mind  unengaged. 

Tuesday,  6. — At  morning,  noon,  and  night,  endeavoured  to 
go  to  God ;  but  was  not  affected  as  I  ought  to  be  ;  did  not  feel 
that  communion  with  God  which  makes  prayer  delightful. 
Impatient  in  school.  May  grace  subdue  every  evil  temper, 
and  bad  passion  in  my  heart. 

Plan  for  every  day's  religious  exercise  in  private. — When 
I  awake  in  the  morning,  meditate  on  the  important  doctrine 
of  religion  ;  read  a  portion  of  Scripture  ;  pray.    In  the  course 


44  M  E  M  O  I  R     O  F 

of  the  day  keep  up  a  praying  spirit,  and  be  frequent  in 
ejaculation.  Twelve  o'clock — pray  and  review  the  occur- 
rences of  the  day.  Guard  against  every  bad  passion.  Six — 
review  again.  Evening  prayer.  Go  to  bed  endeavouring 
to  impress  religion  on  my  mind,  so  that  my  sleeping  thoughts 
may  not  be  sinful,  and  I  may  awake  in  the  morning  with 
religious  thoughts.  After  all  depend  upon  God's  grace. 
May  I  be  endued  with  perseverance  so  as  to  keep  on  this 
course ! 

Wednesday i  7. — Began  this  evening  to  read  Doddridge's 
Family  Expositor  in  the  family,  and  I  purpose  to  read  it 
through.  May  God  bless  this  plan  to  the  instruction  of 
every  one  of  us  in  divine  knowledge. 

Thursday,  8. — As  usual  this  day  until  evening — then  con- 
siderably harrassed  by  temptations,  and  filled  with  disagree- 
able thoughts  which  unfitted  me  for  service.  O  gracious 
God,  eradicate  from  my  heart  those  evil  dispositions  which 
give  Satan  the  advantage  over  me  !  O  that  I  may  be  sancti- 
fied and  cleansed  through  the  blood  of  Christ  from  all  ini- 
quity !  Went  to  S.  Bedford's,  and  talked  to  his  family,  par- 
ticularly to  his  servants.  I  feel  very  much  interested  for 
this  unfortunate  race  of  men.  May  God  enable  me  to  be 
useful  to  them  ;  and  may  their  hearts  be  inclined  to  listen  to 
the  instructions  which  I  am  desirous  to  give  them. 

Saturday,  10. — Engaged  in  catechising  children.  Only 
six  children  attended.  Endeavoured  to  preach  to  the  parents 
from  Deuteronomy  vi.  7.  ^nd  thou  shalt  teach  them  dili- 
gently to  thy  children,  and  shalt  talk  of  them  when  thou 
sittest  in  thy  house,  and  when  thouwalkest  by  the  way,  ^c. 
My  object  was  to  state  the  duty,  and  the  obligation  to  per- 
form it;  and  to  point  out  the  manner  of  doing  it.  May 
divine  grace  make  these  poor  efforts  of  mine  effectual  to  the 
increase  of  family  religion  in  our  congregation.  God  grant 
that  parents  may  be  diligent  to  train  up  their  children  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.     Ht  quamvis  sura 


DOCTORRICE.  45 

orbus  liheris,  Deus  faxit  ut  diligentissime  erudiarn  arcta 
disciplina  eos  qui  sunt  in  domo  mea ! 

Sabbath,  1 1. — Preached  at  Cub  Creek.  Matt.  xxv.  46.  And 
these  shall  go  away,  4'C.  Did  not  feel  that  tender  concern 
which  I  wish.  O  !  that  at  all  times  I  may  be  so  filled  with 
love  to  man,  that  my  heart  shall  overflow  with  tenderness 
and  compassion.  Sabbath  evening.  Visited  my  friend, 
Mrs.  Daniel.  Had  comfort  in  talking  with  her  and  the 
young  people  on  the  subject  of  rehgion  ;  but  did  not  feel  my 
heart  so  filled  with  religion  as  to  exckide  improper  thoughts. 

January  30. — A  variety  of  circumstances  has  prevented 
daily  attention  to  my  diary  for  some  time  past.  I  accuse 
myself  of  negligence  and  inattention.  I  have  not  done  the 
things  which  I  ought  to  have  done. 

O  that  God,  of  his  infinite  mercy,  would  subdue  all  my 
powers  to  himself,  and  make  me  just  what  I  ought  to  be. 
I  acknowledge  my  sluggishness  in  religion  for  some  days 
past.  Had  I  been  more  industrious,  it  may  be  that  sin 
would  not  have  gotten  such  an  advantage  over  me.  In 
order  to  prevent  this  for  the  time  to  come,  in  the  strength  of 
divine  grace, 

Resolved,  1.  To  be  continually  employed  in  doing  some- 
thing useful. 

2.  That  I  will  beg  God's  blessing  on  whatever  I  under- 
take. 

3.  That  I  will  endeavour  to  do  everything  from  regard  to 
God's  authority — even  the  litde  concerns  of  life. 

4.  That  whatever  I  do,  shall  be  done  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus. 

May  I  every  hour  of  my  life  adhere  to  these  resolutions, 
and  may  God  bless  me  in  them,  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake. 
Amen. 

February  1,  1807. — By  a  gracious  Providence,  I  have 
been  preserved  through  another  month.  I  have  enjoyed  a 
comfortable  portion  of  health  and  strength ;  my  temporal 


46  MEMOIROF 

wants  have  been  supplied,  my  reason  continued,   and  all 
the  common  comforts  of  life  have  been  bestowed  upon  me. 
For  all  these  mercies  I  desire,  most  merciful  God,  to  praise      \ 
thee ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  lament  my  great  ingratitude 
for  so  many  favours. 

The  session,  at  my  instance,  has  agreed  to  spend  one    |J 
day  in  a  quarter,  in  humiliation  and  prayer  for  a  revival  of    j' 
religion.     This  was  the  day  appointed  for  that  purpose.     i9 
The  congregation  met  at  Bethesda,  all  circumstances  con-    j  fi 
sidered,  in  much  larger  numbers  than  could  be  expected,     'k 
There   was   some  affection,  and  considerable  seriousness.    )| 
Preached  from  2  Thes.  iii.  1.    Finally,  brethren,  pray  for    '  < 
us,  that  the  word  of  God  may  have  free  course  and  be 
glorified.     I  did   not  feel  that  liberty  with   which  I  am 
sometimes  favoured.     But  blessed  be  God  for  what  I  did 
enjoy !     And  now,  as  every  scheme  must  have   the  divine 
blessing,  in  order  to  its  being  brought  to  a  prosperous  issue, 
I  humbly  implore  the   divine  blessing  upon  this  plan  of 
ours.     Great  Head  of  the  Church,  exert  thy  power.     Re- 
vive thy  work ;  glorify  thy  name  ;  give  thy  people  praying 
hearts ;  convert  sinners  to  thee ;  build  up  thy  Zion ;  heal 
the  divisions  in  thy  Church ;  and  grant  that  the  word  of 
the  Lord  may  have  free  course,  and  be  glorified.     Amen. 

Tuesday,  19. — I  am  very  desirous  that  the  school  which 
I  teach  may  be  a  school  of  piety ;  that  the  young  persons 
in  it  may  be  trained  up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of 
the  Lord ;  and  that  they  may  become  ornaments  of  the 
church,  and  blessings  of  society.  Gracious  God,  give  me 
wisdom  to  act  my  part  well  in  this  relation.  O,  that  I  may 
be  successful  in  this  most  important  object. 

Saturday,  28. — I  thank  God,  that  there  is  a  greater  ap- 
pearance of  zeal  in  some  members  of  the  congregation  than 
usual.  God  grant  that  it  may  spread  from  heart  to  heart, 
§nd  from  family  to  family,  until  the  whole  congregation 


DOCTORRICE.  47 

shall  catch  the  sacred  flame,  and  glow  with  the  fervour  of 
love  !     The  Lord  bless  my  beloved  congregation. 

Another  month  of  the  new  year  is  gone !  How  rapid  is 
the  flight  of  time. 

Sed  fugit  interea  fugit  breve  irreparabile  tempus. 

O,  may  I  improve  it  as  it  passes  !  Dura  vivimus  vivamiis, 
was  Doddridge's  motto,  thus  explained  by  him  in  one  of 
the  finest  epigrams  in  the  language  : 

"  Live  while  you  live,"  the  epicure  will  say, 
And  seize  the  pleasures  of  the  present  day  : 
"  Live  while  you  live,"  the  sacred  preacher  cries. 
And  give  to  God  each  moment  as  it  flies : 
Lord,  in  my  view  let  both  united  be : 
I  live  in  pleasure  whilst  1  live  to  thee. 

May  I  thus  feel,  and  thus  act;  I  ask  for  Christ's  sake, 
Amen. 

March  1. — This  day  I  wish' to  begin  with  new  resolu- 
tions in  the  service  of  God. 

As  to  the  improvement  of  my  time,  Resolved,  That  no 
more  be  spent  in  sleep,  or  in  eating,  or  in  idle  conversation, 
than  I  find  is  necessary  for  my  health. 

Resolved,  As  before,  always  to  be  doing  something  which 
may  turn  to  some  good. 

O,  that  God  for  Christ's  sake  may  give  me  grace  to 
keep  these  resolutions,  and  to  walk  circumspectly,  redeem- 
ing the  time  ! 

Friday,  12. — Let  me  endeavour  to  spend  this  day  as  I 
ought.  Let  me  begin  this  morning,  and  keep  a  watch  over 
the  thoughts  of  my  heart,  the  words  of  my  mouth,  and  the 
actions  of  my  life. 

March  31. — For  some  time  past,  have  been  in  very  bad 
health,  and  instead  of  attending  more  diligently  to  my 
diary,  and  to  the  state  of  my  soul,  1  have  neglected  every 
thing.      How  fooUsh   and   how  wicked  has  this  conduct 


48  MEMOIROF 

been.  The  more  I  needed  the  consolations  of  religion,  the 
more  I  have  neglected  them.  Twelve  days  have  passed 
off,  I  know  not  how.  In  other  words,  twelve  days  have 
been  wasted.  I  know  not,  that  in  this  portion  of  time  I 
have  made  any  advance  towards  heaven,  any  progress  in 
piety.  A  review  of  the  whole  month  is  sufficient  to  fill 
me  with  alarm  and  sorrow.  Were  I  now  on  my  death-bed, 
how  much  should  I  lament  this  wasted  time. 

Last  Sabbath  evening,  I  visited  Dr.  F's.  wife.  She 
knows  herself  to  be  on  the  verge  of  eternity,  and  has  a 
strong  conviction  of  the  importance  of  rightly  improving 
time.  "O!"  says  she,  "I  have  put  off  religion  until  I 
was  obliged  to  attend  to  it;  now  I  am  afraid  it  is  too  late." 
Let  the  distress  of  this  poor  woman  be  a  lesson  to  me  as 
long  as  I  live.  "Whenever  I  am  disposed  to  be  negligent  in 
religion,  let  me  think  how  precious  time  is  to  those  on  the 
borders  of  eternity.  May  God  give  me  suitable  repentance 
and  humiliation  for  the  follies  of  the  last  month,  and  may 
those  to  come  be  spent  to  his  glory  1 

April,  1. — This  day  begins  another  month.  There  are 
three  things  which  I  ought  now  to  feel:  1st.  Gratitude  for 
preservation  through  the  last  month.  2d.  Humility  for 
misspending  time.  3d.  The  strongest  resolutions  to  live 
better  than  I  ever  have  done  before." 

Here  the  diary  ends  abruptly,  and,  it  seems,  was  never 
afterwards  resumed. 

The  following  extracts  from  some  of  his  letters  to  his 
friend  Mr.  Alexander,  who  had  now  become  the  pastor  of 
the  Pine-street  church  in  Philadelphia,  and  had  been  suc- 
ceeded in  the  Presidency  of  Hampden  Sydney  College  by 
the  Rev.  Moses  Hoge,  give  us  some  additional  notices  of  his 
life,  which  are  all  that  we  have  for  some  years. 


;'■ 


DOCTORRICE.  49 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  Feb,  6th,  1808. 

"  The  opinion  that  Mr.  Hoge  will  succeed  very  well  at 
college  seems  to  be  gaining  ground.  He  is  in  high  estima- 
tion Avith  the  students.  He  is  very  popular  among  the  trus- 
tees ;  and  many  in  the  neighbourhood  who  have  never  been 
thought  friends  to  the  college,  have  expressed  a  favourable 
opinion  of  him.  My  own  opinion  is  that  he  is  very  well 
qualified  to  be  a  teacher. 

The  embargo  has  completely  stopped  all  collections  for 
the  Theological  School.  The  last  year  was  a  time  of  such 
scarcity,  that  many  of  the  most  judicious  friends  of  the  insti- 
tution, advised  us  to  wait  until  the  present  crop  should  be 
sold  before  we  urged  the  payment  of  the  money.  And  now 
we  must  of  necessity  wait  until  the  embargo  is  taken  off;  so 
that  not  a  great  deal  has  been  done  since  you  left  us.  Per- 
haps fifteen  hundred  dollars  have  been  collected,  of  which 
about  eleven  hundred  are  in  the  hands  of  major  Mor- 
ton. The  whole  success  of  the  scheme  depends  upon  the 
activity  of  one  or  two  individuals.  The  whole  energy  of  the 
Presbytery,  I  fear,  will  never  be  exerted  in  its  favour.  The 
truth  is,  as  a  body,  we  are  deplorably  deficient  in  public  spi- 
rit. And  I  fear  that  the  remark  extends  much  farther  than 
the  bounds  of  Hanover  Presbytery. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Prince  Edward,  March  IQth,  1808. 
T  have  a  very  ardent  desire  to  possess  either  Mills'  or 
Wetstein's  Greek  Testament.  I  should  greatly  prefer  Wet- 
stein's,  but  I  know  not  whether  it  can  be  procured.  If  it  cannot, 
I  would  take  Mills;  I  shall  leave  the  matter  to  your  discretion. 
'  I  believe  I  mentioned  to  you  before,  my  anxiety  to  obtain 
Trommius'  Concordance.  I  rely  upon  your  friendly  atten- 
tion to  procure  it  for  me  if  possible. 

6 


50  MEMOIROF 

I  think  that  religion  has  gradually  declined  within  the 
bounds  of  this  Presbytery  since  you  left  us.  There  has 
been  added  to  my  congregation  only  one  member  during  the 
last  year.  1  do  not  know  that  any  of  my  colleagues  have 
been  more  successful.  Perhaps  it  may  have  been  better 
with  Speece.  The  judgments  which  impend  the  nation 
seem  to  have  not  the  least  effect.  Indeed  the  people  who 
are  immediately  within  the  sphere  of  my  observation  seem 
to  be  more  gay,  more  thoughtless,  and  more  worldly  minded 
than  usual.  These  things  almost  overwhelm  me,  and  some- 
times I  am  driven  almost  to  my  wWs  end.  But  by  some  or 
other  good  word,  and  encouraging  promise,  I  am  supported  ; 
and  at  this  time  I  feel  more  than  usual  desires  to  do  good  in 
the  vineyard  of  the  Lord. 

I  have  heard  nothing  of  the  proceedings  of  my  Baptist 
brethren,  since  I  wrote  last.  I  have  heard,  but  know  not 
the  truth  of  the  report,  that  they  have  concluded  to  let  me 
alone.  Old  Mr.  Weatherford  advises  them  not  to  undertake 
to  write  against  Presbyterians,  When  will  the  time  come 
when  the  churches  will  have  peace  among  themselves  ?  I 
am  sick  to  the  heart  of  controversy. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  Jan'y  2Sth,  1810. 
I  think  the  state  of  religion  in  this  country  worse  by  some 
degrees  than  when  you  left  it.  Presbyterian  congregations 
are  decreasing  every  year,  and  appear  as  if  they  would 
dwindle  to  nothing.  The  Baptists  and  Methodists  are  at  a 
stand.  A  strange  apathy  has  seized  the  people.  The  judg- 
ments with  which  our  nation  has  been  visited,  and  the  more 
awful  ones  which  impend,  have  produced  no  effect ;  or  if 
any,  a  most  disastrous  one.  Instead  of  being  a  blessing, 
they  are  a  curse.  The  people  feel  about  nothing  but  money. 
As  to  religion,  the  very  stillness  of  death  reigns  amongst  us. 
I  can  find  no  resemblance  to  this  part  of  the  country  but  in 


i 


DOCTORRICE.  51 

'  •  Ezekiel's  valley  of  dry  bones.  I  am  sure  you  do  not  forget 
your  old  friends.  Remember  them  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
and  let  me  particularly  have  an  interest  in  your  prayers. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  March  ISth,  1810. 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  Clement  Read's  last  move- 
ment. He  is  now  in  the  employ  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia, 
and  is  about  forming  a  missionary  circuit  through  Mecklen- 
burg, Lunenburg,  Nottoway,  and  Amelia,  through  which  he 
designs  to  itinerate  once  a  month.  He  appears  to  be  full  of 
zeal,  and  I  hope  will  do  good.  He  is  now  altogether  a 
Presbyterian.  The  Presbytery  of  Lexington  have  lately 
licensed  three  young  men,  Messrs.  Graham,  Ervin,  and 
.  Wilson,  of  all  of  whom,  (especially  of  Graham,)  common 
fame  speaks  well.  We  expect  to  turn  out  two  or  three 
licentiates  in  April,  who  will  engage  in  the  missionary 
business.  So  that,  in  this  part  of  the  vineyard,  we  shall 
have  a  pretty  considerable  addition  of  labourers.  This  is 
encouraging.     God  grant  them  success  ! 

Grigsby  writes  from  Norfolk,  that  the  work  is  too  heavy 
for  him  there,  and  begs  that  a  missionary  may  be  stationed 
with  him  for  a  few  months.  I  believe  he  will  engage  for 
his  support.  Ichab  Graham  is  about  to  go.  I  have  told 
you  every  thing  that  is  encouraging  amongst  us.  We  have 
just  enough  to  excite  our  hopes  that  God  is  about  to  do 
something  for  old  Virginia  yet. 

Old  Mr.  O'Kelly,  the  chief  of  the  Christian  Methodists, 
has  passed  through  the  neighbourhood.  I  understand  he  is 
nearly  deserted  by  his  followers,  and  talks  of  going  home, 
and  hanging  his  harp  upon  the  willow.  He  says,  "  That 
there  has  sprung  up  in  the  country  a  sect  under  the  general 
name  of  Christians,  who  administer  adult  baptism  only  to 
please  the  Baptists;  who  hold  Arminian  sentiments  to 
catch  the  Methodists;  and  yet  will  allow  a  man  to  be  b, 


52  MEMOIROF 

Calvinist  if  he  chooses ;  that  they  profess  Socinian  tenets, 
and  make  that  profession  the  only  bond  of  union.  They 
have  taken  in  all  the  Marshallites  in  Kentucky,  and  have 
made  some  progress  there.  In  New  York,  they  publish  a 
periodical  work,  called  the  Herald  of  Religious  Liberty. 
He  states  too,  that  they  are  increasing  rapidly,  and  in  some 
parts  utterly  subverting  the  faith  of  many.  Have  you 
heard  any  thing  of  all  tliis  ? 

TO  1  HE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  July  I5th,  1810. 

I  feel  myself,  since  my  last  journey,  less  tied  to  the 
spot  on  which  I  live,  than  I  did  before.  Or  rather,  I  feel 
more  ready  to  go  wherever  the  providence  of  God  may 
open  a  door  for  greater  usefulness  in  the  church  than  ap- 
pears to  lie  open  before  me  here.  I  am  now  quite  recon- 
ciled to  your  living  in  Philadelphia.  It  matters  but  little 
where  we  are,  so  that  we  are  doing  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

I  have  written  my  Presbyterial  sermon  over  again,  and 
without  doing  it  any  injury,  I  have  reduced  it  from  fifty- 
nine  to  thirty-nine  pages.  I  hope  that  you  will  do  me  the 
favour  to  accept  of  a  copy  when  it  is  printed,  and,  if  you 
think  it  worth  your  while,  take  half  a  dozen,  and  distribute 
them  as  you  like  best. 

I  am  zealously  engaged  in  the  study  of  Hebrew  this 
summer.  I  am  determined  to  master  it  if  possible.  Would 
I  could  get  a  Syriac  New  Testament  such  as  yours !  I  am 
anxious  to  be  an  Orientalist.  Who  knows  but  that  J  may 
yet  be  a  professor  in  a  Theological  school.' 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  Sept.  Uh,  1810. 
I  have   a  very  strong  inclination  to  represent  Hanover 
Presbytery  in  the  next  General  Assembly,  and  to  represent 
the  next  General  Assembly  in  the  Association  of  Connecticut. 


DOCTORRICE.  53 

I  do  not  know  yet  that  I  can  have  sufficient  interest  to  secure 
my  election ;  but  I  feel  pretty  much  resolved  to  make  the 
attempt.  My  health  has  been  so  much  better  this  summer 
than  usual,  that  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  probable  that  if  I 
could  have  spent  two  or  three  months  longer  travelling  in 
the  spring,  I  should  ha\e  become  quite  fat  and  hearty. 

Yes  sir!  if  it  pleases  God  to  give  me  health  and  strength, 
I  am  resolved  to  be  master  of  those  languages  in  which  the 
truths  of  divine  revelation  were  originally  recorded ;  and 
I  am  very  anxious  to  get  all  the  helps  in  these  studies  that 
can  possibly  be  procured.  I  must  beg  your  assistance  in 
this  business.  If  you  will  accept  of  it,  I  hereby  give  you  a 
carte  blanche,  a  full  commission  to  buy  for  me  at  any  price 
you  think  proper  to  give,  any  book  that  you  can  find,  that 
will  in  your  opinion  be  important  for  me  to  have.  I  am 
very  anxious  to  get  Horseley's  new  translation  of  Hosea. 
Be  on  the  watch  if  you  please  for  a  Syriac  New  Testa- 
ment. I  do  not  know  whether  it  is  worth  while  to  mention 
Calacio's  Concordance,  or  Michaelis'  Hebrew  Bible  ;  for  I 
question  whether  they  can  be  obtained.  I  am  sure  that  you 
will  do  all  you  can  for  me  ;  and  that  you  will  excuse  my 
troubling  you  in  this  way. 

The  state  of  religion  amongst  us  is  perhaps  better  than 
when  we  were  in  Philadelphia.  I  saw  Mr.  Lyle  at  Char- 
lotte court  yesterday.  He  is  more  encouraged  than  I  have 
seen  him  for  several  years.  Very  probably  he  will  write  by 
Mr.  Read,  and  give  you  a  particular  account  of  the  state  of 
affairs.  Mr.  Hoge  wrote  to  me  yesterday,  that  he  thought 
there  was  a  growing  attention  to  religion  about  college.  I 
attended  a  sacrament  at  Old  Hat  Creek  on  Sabbath  with  Mr. 
Le  Grand.  There  was  a  large  and  very  attentive  congrega- 
tion, and  much  affection.  Some  few  additions  were  made 
to  the  church.  My  Cub  Creek  people  seem  to  be  consider- 
ably stirred  up,  and  we  are  all  in  hopes  that  the  Lord  is 
about  to  visit  these  desolations,  and  build  up  our  ruins.  I 
6* 


54  MEMOIROF 

think  that  a  spirit  of  prayer  is  in  some  degree  poured  out, 
and  that  at  least  a  few  are  wrestling  with  God.  The  mis- 
sionary business  is  going  on  with  some  success.  Clem. 
Read,  Charles  Kennon,  and  James  Wilson,  are  riding  very 
constantly  between  this  and  Petersburg.  Kennon  writes 
that  immense  crowds  attend  him  almost  constantly,  that  the 
cry  for  preaching  is  great,  and  that  it  is  recommendation 
enough  for  any  man  that  he  is  a  Presbyterian.  We  want 
preachers,  we  want  a  great  many  more  preachers  ! — preach- 
ers of  zeal  and  of  talents,  who  will  give  themselves  np  with 
unreserved  devotion  to  the  great  work  of  preaching  salva- 
tion. But  I  shall  make  a  fuller  communication  on  this  sub- 
ject before  long  to  the  Committee  of  Missions. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  Oct.  17 th,  1810. 
I  believe  that  when  I  last  wrote,  I  observed  that  the  cause 
of  religion  was  looking  up.  Although  we  have  nothing  that 
can  be  called  a  revival,  yet  we  are  still  more  encouraged.  I 
think  that  Christians  are  in  some  degree  revived.  Many 
seem  to  have  a  spirit  of  grace  and  supplication,  and  are 
wrestling  with  God  in  prayer.  There  have  been  more 
added  to  the  church  at  our  last  sacraments  than  usual.  Num- 
bers in  Cub  Creek,  Briery,  and  Cumberland,  seem  to  be 
anxiously  inquiiing  on  the  subject  of  religion.  You  remem- 
ber that  in  Virginia  there  was  a  class  of  persons  who  never 
^vent  to  church  at  all ;  they  thought  it  beneath  them.  That 
class  is  diminishing  in  numbers  pretty  rapidly.  And  now 
and  then,  persons  of  this  description  are  entering  into  the 
church.  Mrs.  Judith  Randolph,  of  Bizarre,  lately  made  a 
profession  of  religion.  I  have  been  much  in  her  company 
since,  and  I  think  her  among  the  most  truly  pious  in  our 
country.  John  Randolph  attended  the  sacrament  when  his 
sister  joined  with  us,  and  seemed  to  be  much  impressed. 
He  invited  Mr.  Hoge  home  with  him,  and  conversed  much 
upon  religion.     Mr.  Hoge  is  fully  persuaded  that  he  is,  as  it 


DOCTORRICE.  55 

is  expressed  here,  an  exercised  man.  Wm.  B.  Giles  regu- 
larly attends  our  missionaries  who  preach  in  Amelia.  Mr. 
Speece  preached  in  his  neighbourhood  not  long  ago.  He 
was  present,  and  remarkably  attentive.  In  the  evening 
he  repeated  to  a  lady  who  could  not  go  to  church,  Mr. 
Speece's  sermon  almost  verbatim,  adding  when  he  was  done, 
that  it  was  the  best  sermon  he  ever  heard  or  read.  Joseph 
Eggleston,  formerly  member  of  Congress,  entertains  our  mis- 
sionaries at  his  house  with  the  utmost  cordiality.  The  wife 
of  John  W.  Eppes  is  said  to  be  under  very  serious  religious 
impressions.  There  were  at  the  last  Cumberland  sacrament 
from  eight  to  ten  of  the  Randolph  connections  at  the  table  of 
the  Lord.  These  are  a  few  instances  among  the  many  that 
might  be  mentioned  of  the  truth  of  the  observation  made 
above.  Upon  the  whole,  we  are  encouraged.  And  I  hope 
that  we  shall  have  greater  grounds  for  encouragement.  Pray 
for  old  Virginia." 

About  this  time,  we  learn,  he  received  an  intimation  from 
some  persons  in  Richmond,  that  they  would  be  very  glad  if  he 
would  come  down  and  lead  them  in  getting  up  a  new  church 
which  they  were  proposing  to  raise  in  that  place,  and  which 
seemed  to  be  sadly  needed.  The  state  of  religion,  indeed, 
in  our  metropolis,  at  that  period,  was  deplorably  low.  It  is 
true  that  in  the  Methodist  and  Baptist  churches  there  was,  no 
doubt,  much  real  piety;  mixed,  however,  as  it  seemed,  with 
no  small  portion  of  enthusiasm,  and  confined,  moreover, 
chiefly  to  persons  in  the  humbler  walks  of  life,  who  were, 
of  course,  without  any  great  influence;  while  those  in  the 
higher  and  more  fashionable  circles  of  society,  embracing 
the  Episcopal  and  Presbyterian  denominations,  were  fallen 
into  a  state  of  the  greatest  apathy;  for  the  spirit  of  infidelity 
and  the  spirit  of  the  world  had  poisoned  the  minds  of  many 
of  them  to  a  sad  degree,  and  the  sanctuary  was  almost  ex- 
tinct. There  was  at  least  no  regularly  organized  church  of 
either  of  these  names  in  the  place,  (or  none  that  was  visible,) 
but  all  of  both  of  them  who  retained  any  respect  for  religion 


56  M  E  M  O  I  R     O  F 

went  together  to  hear  a  sermon,  in  the  forenoon  only  of  every 
Sunday,  in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Delegates,  in  the  Capitol; 
(for  the  Presbyterians  had  no  house  of  worship  in  the  city,  and 
the  Episcopalians  used  their  old  church  on  the  lower  hill,  only 
at  Easter  and  Christmas).  And  here  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blair  of 
the  Presbyterian,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Buchanan  of  the  Epis- 
copal church,  who  were  linked  together  in  a  very  warm  and 
intimate  friendship,  officiated  alternately,  according  to  the 
forms  of  their  respective  churches.  On  one  Sunday  the 
people  were  Presbyterians,  in  outward  appearance,  and  the 
next  they  were  Episcopalians,  in  aspect;  but  still  all  the 
same.  In  either  phase,  the  great  body  of  those  who  attended 
the  service  appeared  to  have  no  idea  of  vital  religion,  and 
the  few  pious  people  who  perhaps  still  lingered  among  them, 
(hovering,  as  it  were,  over  the  ashes  of  the  altar,  and  dying 
away  with  its  embers,)  were  themselves  very  nearly  7'eady  to 
jKrish.  In  short,  there  was  nothing  but  the  form,  or  rather  the 
shadow  of  a  church,  among  them ;  and  hardly  that ;  for  the  sa- 
crament, I  believe,  was  never  administered  in  the  Hall,  and 
the  rite  of  baptism,  which  had  got  to  be  the  mere  ceremony  of 
christening  (as  it  was  called)  to  give  the  child  a  name,  was 
performed  only  in  private  houses. 

To  finish  the  picture,  I  am  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  add 
that  the  ministers  themselves,  though  both  very  worthy  and 
amiable  men,  were  yet  most  insipidly  lukewarm  in  their 
public  services,  and,  in  their  private  habits  and  manners,  as 
I  understand,  were  not  exactly  the  best  examples  to  their 
Hock.  They  partook,  at  least,  without  scruple,  of  the 
pleasures  of  the  table,  and  winked  at  all  the  innocent 
amusements  of  the  gay  and  fashionable  circles  in  which 
they  moved.  The  people,  of  course,  felt  themselves 
authorized  to  go  a  little  beyond  their  pastors;  and  the 
church  and  the  world  were  completely  mingled  and  con- 
founded together.* 

*  It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  both  these  worthy  men,  who  have 
since  died,  to  add  here,  that  the  gross  impropriety  of  their  clerical 


DOCTORRICE.  57 

In  this  state  of  things,  a  few  pious  persons  who  had 
become  disgusted  with  the  cold  and  heartless  services  of 
the  capitol,  conceived  the  idea  of  establishing  a  Presbyte- 
rian congregation  in  the  city,  and  of  building  a  church  for 
it,  near  Rocketts,  and  looking  about  for  some  evangelical 
preacher  to  lead  them  in  their  enterprise,  they  had  turned 
their  eyes  towards  Mr.  Rice;  for  they  had  heard  him 
preach  several  times,  on  his  occasional  visits  to  Richmond, 
and  elsewhere,  and  were  satisfied  that  he  would  be  the 
very  man  for  their  purpose.  Some  of  them,  accordingly, 
had  broached  their  wishes  to  him,  which  he  could  not,  of 
course,  help  hearing  with  interest;  but  their  whole  plan 
was  as  yet  too  immature,  and  too  uncertain,  for  him  to  em- 
brace it  at  once;  and  he  could,  therefore,  only  encourage 
them  to  proceed,  and  allow  them  to  hope  that  he  might 
perhaps  be  brought  to  aid  them  in  it  at  some  future  day. 
So  the  project  had  rested,  until  the  Rev.  Drury  Lacy,  it 
seems,  paid  them  a  visit,  and  preached  with  so  much  effect, 
that  their  desire  to  enlist  Mr.  Rice  in  their  service,  was 
greatly  increased ;  and  they  now  renewed  their  application 
to  him  in  more  definite  terms. 

The  following  letters  will  show  the  progress  of  the 
movement,  (with  some  other  matters,)  and  we  shall,  by  and 
by,  see  its  effect. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  January  Sd,  1811. 
There  is  great  uncertainty  in  my  going  to  Philadelphia 

deportment  was  owing,  in  some  measure  at  least,  to  the  times  in 
which  they  lived,  when  neither  the  world  nor  the  church  was  yet 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  religion  as  it  has  since  been ;  and  that  they 
both  lived  to  see  and  acknowledge  the  error  which  they  had  com- 
mitted. I  have  been  told,  that  Mr.  Blair,  particularly,  who  was  a 
man  of  real  piety,  and  greatly  esteemed  by  his  brethren,  confessed 
his  fault  publicly  to  the  Presbytery  to  which  he  belonged,  even  with 
tears. 


58  MEMOIROF 

next  spring,  because  there  will  probably  be  a  competition 
among  us  for  the  office  of  representative  of  Hanover  Pres- 
bytery, and  I  have  no  reason  to  expect  that  a  preference 
Avill  be  given  to  me.  Should  there,  however,  be  a  call  for 
my  services,  I  shall  willingly  accept  of  it.  As  to  the  plan 
proposed  by  you,  I  feel  these  difficulties.  I  do  not  know 
exactly  how  to  bring  myself  to  candidate  for  the  pas- 
toral office,  having  been  always  of  opinion  that  the  people, 
and  not  the  minister,  should  be  the  solicitor  on  such  occa- 
sions. Besides,  I  do  not  know  what  I  should  do,  or  say, 
were  I  persuaded  that  every  man  who  was  hearing  me, 
thought,  when  I  rose  up,  "  Now,  I'll  see  whether  this  man 
will  do  or  not."  The  other  difficulty  arises  from  the  ap- 
prehension, that  should  I  be  called  to  the  place  of  the  late 
Dr.  Tennant,  I  should  be  obliged  to  teach  for  my  living. 
Now,  one  powerful  motive  for  removing  from  my  own 
place,  would  be  the  prospect  of  delivery  from  this  neces- 
sity, and  of  having  more  time  for  study  and  preaching.  It 
is  probable  indeed,  that  as  long  as  I  live,  I  shall  hav^  a  boy 
or  two,  the  children  of  particular  friends,  in  my  family ; 
but  I  wish  most  devoutly  to  have  some  other  means  of  sup- 
port. I  think,  however,  that  I  shall  not  long  be  supported 
in  this  way  here,  I  mean  that  there  is  little  probability 
that  I  shall  continue  long  in  this  place.  Not  that  my 
school  is  not  large  enough.  Indeed,  my  principal  difficulty 
is  to  keep  the  number  as  small  as  I  wish.  But,  all  things  con- 
sidered, I  hold  myself  ready  to  go  where  Providence  may 
call  me.  And  I  just  sit  here,  waiting  for,  and  observing  as 
narrowly  as  I  can,  the  dispensation  of  Heaven.  Where  I 
am  clearly  called,  there  will  I  go;  but  I  must  first  be  satis- 
fied that  I  am  called. 

Se  quid  novisti  rectius  candidus  imperii. 

Have  you  heard  of  Mr.  I^acy's  trip  to  Richmond  last 
month,  and  of  the  effects  which  his  preaching  produced  ? 
I   have   understood   that   a   number  of  persons  since  that 


D  O  C  T  O  R     R  I  C  E.  59 

time  have  determined,  if  possible,  to  get  some  evangelical 
preacher  to  live  in  the  place.  The  plan  laid  by  major 
Quarles  is,  to  subscribe  and  rent  a  house  for  an  academy,  to 
the  charge  of  which  the  minister  of  their  choice  is  to  be  in- 
vited ;  and  he  is  to  build  up  a  church,  from  the  pew  rent  of 
which  a  salary  is  to  be  raised  for  him ;  and  then,  if  he 
chooses,  he  may  drop  his  school.  Quarles,  Watt,  and  a 
few  others,  who  are  most  deeply  interested  in  this  business, 
are  very  sanguine  in  their  expectations  of  success. 

From  some  late  communications  that  have  been  made  to 
me,  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  they  depend  on  me  to  do 
the  work  for  them.  And  indeed,  could  I  establish  a  church 
in  Richmond,  '■''built  on  the  foundation  of  the  prophets  and 
apostles,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner- 
stone,"" I  should  do  well.  But  I  fear  that  this  is  a  task  not 
easy  to  be  accomplished.  I  foresee  many  difficulties  in  the 
way.  Let  me  wait,  however,  until  the  thing  is  formally 
proposed. 

TO  MRS, 

Charlotte,  Feb,  3d,  181], 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Although  my  duty  calls  me  to  other  employments  than 

that  of  writing  letters  this  morning,  yet  I  cannot  bear  that 

*  This  lady  was  the  widow  of  Mr.  Richard  Randolph,  a  brother  of 
John  Randolph  of  Roanoke,  and  was  at  this  time  living-  at  her  seat 
called  Bizarre,  near  the  small  town  of  Farmville,  in  the  county  of 
Cumberland.  Some  two  or  three  years  before  the  date  of  this  letter, 
she  had  put  her  son  Theodoric  Tudor  Randolph,  (a  youth  of  much 
promise,)  to  school  to  Mr.  Rice;  and  the  lad  falling  sick,  she  had  visit- 
ed him  ai  his  teacher's  house.  This,  of  course,  brought  her  to  form  an 
acquaintance  with  the  pastor  and  his  wife,  which  soon  ripened  into  a 
lasting  friendship,  and  produced  the  most  happy  fruits.  The  coun- 
sel, indeed,  of  such  a  friend  as  she  found  in  him,  was  particularly 
valuable  to  her,  as  she  had  been  called  to  suffer  great  and  peculiar 
sorrows,  (growing  out  of  circumstances  well  knov^^n  in  that  part  of 
the  country,  and  the  subject  of  a  cause  celebre,  but  which  I  do  not 


60  MEMOTROF 

the  boy  should  return  without  an  expression  of  friendship 
from  us  to  you.  In  such  a  world  as  this,  it  is  unchristian  to 
withhold  any,  even  the  least  degree  of  comfort,  or  innocent 
pleasure  that  we  are  able  to  afford  ;  and  could  I,  by  any  thing 
that  I  can  write,  add  to  the  enjoyments,  or  diminish  the 
troubles  of  a  highly  valued  christian  friend,  I  should  think 
my  time  well  employed. 

The  subject  on  which  I  expect  to  preach  to  day  is  Hope  ; 
the  christian's  hope.  It  is  built  on  Jesus  Christ,  "  the  chief 
corner  stone  ;"  his  meritorious  life,  and  precious  blood,  lay- 
ing the  only  foundation  on  which  a  sinner  can  build  his  hope. 
"  Other  foundation  can  no  roan  lay,  than  that  is  laid,  which 
is  Christ."  (Paul  to  the  Corinthians.)  We  are  built  on  this 
foundation,  when  we  have  received  Jesus  Christ  as  our 
Saviour,  and  put  our  trust  entirely  in  him.  Then  may  we, 
instead  of  dreading  the  stroke  of  divine  justice,  indulge  the 
hope  of  pardon.  "  And,  being  justified  by  faith,  we  have 
peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Built  on 
the  foundation  laid  by  him  "  who  gave  himself  for  us,  to  re- 
think it  necessary  or  proper  to  explain,)  and  needed  all  the  consolations 
which  religion  could  afford;  and  the  result  of  all  the  train  of  things 
which  the  little  incident  of  her  visit  providentially  put  in  motion,  was, 
no  doubt,  most  happy  for  her  heart.  At  the  time  when  this  letter  was 
written,  she  had  abandoned  all  the  prejudices  of  the  old  and  high  Epis- 
copalians, in  which  she  had  been  brought  up,  and  become  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  letters  which  follow,  (and  which  are 
only  a  few  of  many,)  may  tell  the  rest.  I  will,  however,  add  here,  that 
I  find  a  pleasing  confirmation  of  the  account  which  I  have  given  above, 
in  one  of  her  own  letters,  which  she  wrote  some  time  after  this,  to  a 
friend  in  Richmond,  in  which  she  says  :  "  I  wish  very  much  that  you 
could  both  hear  and  see  my  excellent  friend  Mr.  Rice;  unless  you  have 
the  common  prejudice  against  Presbyterians,  you  cannot  fail  to  be 
pleased  and  edified,  /at  least  should  pay  a  tribute  to  his  cheerful  and 
simple  piety,  his  animated  and  intelligent  conversation  on  all  subjects; 
for  I  can  with  truth  date  the  perfect  recovery  of  my  long  lost  peace  of 
mind  to  the  period  when  ray  child's  illness  called  me  to  the  abode  of 
rational  piety,  and  real  happiness." 


DOCTOR     RICE.  61 

deem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and  purify  us  to  himself  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works,"  we  are  authorized  to  hope 
for  complete  deliverance  from  all  sin,  to  hope  that  we  shall 
be  transformed  into  the  image  of  God  our  Saviour.  Built 
on  him  "  with  whom  are  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and 
knowledge,"  we  may  hope  that  divine  wisdom  will  guide  us 
through  this  dark  and  uncertain  world,  and  that  we  shall 
arrive  at  that  place,  whence  ignorance,  error,  and  perplexity 
are  forever  banished.  United  by  faith  to  him  who  has  "  the 
government  upon  his  shoulders,"  and  who  has  assured  us 
that  the  "  hairs  of  our  head  are  all  numbered,"  we  may  hope 
that  all  things  "  shall  work  for  our  good,"  and  that  afflic- 
tions shall  "  work  out  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory."  Leaning  upon  him  who  is  a  com- 
passionate High  Priest,  who  knows  what  broken  hearted 
sorrow  is,  we  may  hope  that  we  have  his  sympathy  in  all 
our  trials  here.  And  finally,  having  an  interest  in  him,  who 
is  appointed  of  God  to  "judge  the  world  in  righteousness," 
we  may  hope  that  in  the  great  and  terrible  day  of  the  Lord, 
in  the  day  of  the  vengeance  of  our  God,  he  will  say  unto  us, 
"  Come  ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom,  pre- 
pared for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world." 

A  hope  so  much  divine, 

May  trials  well  endure  ; 
May  purge  our  souls  from  sense  and  sin, 

As  Christ  the  Lord  is  pure. 

May  you,  my  dear  friend,  continually  have  a  lively  hope, 
such  as  this.  It  is  the  best  gift  of  God  to  us  poor  mortals. 
Hope  of  salvation  by  the  grace  of  God,  through  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  is  that  alone  which  will  support  us  here;  that 
alone  which  will  raise  us  above  temptation,  and  keep  us  un- 
spotted from  the  world  :  which  will  inspire  us  with  zeal,  and 
courage  and  fortitude,  so  that  we  shall  fight  the  good  fight  of 
faith.  In  a  word,  the  Apostle  assures  us  that  "  we  are  saved 
by  hope." 

7 


62  MEMOIROF 

May  God  bless  you,  and  give  you  all  that  you  need  for 
his  world,  and  for  eternity. 

Mrs.  Rice  unites  with  me  in  this  and  every  prayer  for  you. 
I  am  with  great  friendship  and  esteem, 

Very  respectfully,  <fcc. 

Jno.  H.  Rice. 


TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Charlotte,  March  Sth,  1811, 
My  Dear  Friend, 

We  were  very  much  pleased  to  see  Jacob  this  evening. 
It  had  been  some  time  since  we  had  heard  from  you,  and 
we  were  afraid  that  your  health  might  have  been  affected 
by  the  frequent  and  violent  changes  of  the  weather  during 
the  month  past.  It  gratified  me  much  to  learn  that  our 
fears  were  groundless.  It  gratified  me  still  more  to  under- 
stand that  your  affairs  have  been  satisfactorily  arranged, 
and  that  you  enjoy,  in  a  good  degree,  contentment  of  mind, 
and  "hope  that  maketh  not  astiamed."  It  is  certainly 
unwise  in  Christians  to  undervalue  the  good  things  of  this 
life,  (and  indeed  of  this  there  is  little  danger,)  but  when 
they  are  estimated  at  their  full  value,  it  is  easy  to  see  that, 
in  comparison  with  heavenly  things,  they  are  "  less  than 
nothing,"  and  "  lighter  than  vanity."  I  therefore  rejoice 
more  that  you  have  any  well  founded  hope  in  Jesus  Christ, 
than  I  should  rejoice  if  the  wealth  of  both  the  Indies  were 
your  own.  What  I  pray  for  most  earnestly  then  is,  that 
"  forgetting  the  things  that  are  behind,  and  reaching  at  those 
that  are  before,  you  may  press  forward  towards  the  mark 
for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus." 
Whatever  religious  attainments  we  may  have  made,  I  am 
afraid  that,  upon  a  strict  scrutiny,  many  deficiencies  will  be 
found  in  the  very  best  amongst  us.  How  important  is  it, 
then,  both  for  our  comfort  here,  and  our  happiness  here- 
after,  that  we   should   constantly  endeavour  to  "  grow  in 


DOCTORRICE.  63 

grace,"  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ.  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  the  friend  to 
whom  I  write,  is  not  one  of  those  who  suppose  that  just 
religion  enough  to  carry  us  to  heaven,  is  all  that  we  need 
be  anxious  for  m  this  world.  The  truly  pious  soul  longs 
to  know  more  of  God,  to  be  more  devoted  to  his  service, 
more  resigned  to  his  will ;  to  have  more  intimate  commu- 
nion with  him;  to  be  more  humble,  more  circumspect, 
more  watchful  over  the  thoughts  of  the  heart,  and  the 
words  of  the  mouth ;  in  a  word,  to  be  more  like  the  blessed 
Saviour  of  sinners.  How  happy  should  we  be,  could  we 
do  the  will  of  God  upon  earth  as  it  is  done  in  the  heavens ! 
Let  us,  my  dear  friend,  aim  constandy  at  this,  and  the  God 
of  love,  "  who  gave  his  son  up  to  the  death  for  us  all,  will, 
with  him,  also  freely  give  us  all  things ;"  all  that  grace 
which  we  need  for  support,  and  consolation,  and  direction, 
while  in  this  world,  and  immortal  life  in  the  world  to  come. 
The  inclemency  of  our  winters,  and  the  miserable  state 
of  our  houses  of  worship,  often  render  it  improper  for 
persons  in  delicate  health  to  attend  on  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel,  and  join  with  the  assemblies  of  the  saints  in  the 
worship  of  the  Most  High  God.  I  consider  this  as  a  real 
misfortune ;  both  because  the  pious  soul  that  reckons  "  one 
day  in  the  house  of  God  as  better  than  a  thousand,"  is,  in 
this  way,  deprived  of  much  real  pleasure;  and  because 
diligent  attendance  on  the  means  of  grace  is  the  way  ap- 
pointed by  heaven  for  our  edification ;  for  the  strengthening 
of  our  faith,  the  increase  of  our  love,  and  the  enlargement 
of  our  hopes ;  and  without  this  attendance,  I  think,  we  can 
hardly  hope  for  great  comforts  in  religion.  But  yet  this 
general  remark  ought  to  be  limited,  for  where  means  cannot 
be  used,  God  works  without  them.  He,  then,  who  really 
delights  in  the  exercises  of  God's  house,  "  and  pants  after 
God,  as  the  hunted  hart  panteth  for  the  cooling  brook," 
and  cannot  go  to  worship  in  his  temple,  may  hope  to  meet 
with  Him  at  home,  and  enjoy  the  light  of  his  countenance, 


64  MEMOIROF 

and  receive  the  tokens  of  his  love.  I  hope  that  you  have 
proved,  by  your  experience,  the  truth  of  these  remarks; 
and  that  cold  and  ungenial  as  the  season  has  been,  your 
heart  has  felt  the  cheering  influences  of  the  Sun  of  Righte- 
ousness, and  that  you  have  been  able  to  rejoice  in  Christ 
Jesus,  without  confidence  in  the  flesh. 

I  am  very  much  pleased  with  the  prospect  of  seeing  you 
with  us  this  spring.  Presbytery,  1  suppose  you  know, 
meets  at  Bethesda,  the  first  day  of  May.  You  will  then 
have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  a  number  of  our  clergy, 
with  some  of  whom,  I  have  no  doubt,  you  will  be  pleased; 
and  by  the  hearing  of  whom  I  hope  you  will  be  edified. 

Mrs.  Rice  wishes  to  write  to  her  friends  at  Willington, 
and  must  therefore  decline  the  pleasure  of  writing  to  you 
at  this  time ;  but  I  can  bear  witness  that  she  loves  you  as 
she  loves  very  few  people  on  earth,  and  that  she  unites 
most  cordially  with  me  in  imploring  on  you  the  best  bless- 
ings of  heaven. 

I  am,  affectionately  and  respectfully,  &;c. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER. 

Charlotte,  May  Sd,  1811. 

I  see  every  year  more  reason  to  believe  that  I  ought  to 
remove  from  this  place  where  I  now  am.  I  wish  to  know 
where  I  ought  to  go;  and  thither  1  hold  myself  ready  to 
go.     May  Heaven  direct  me ! 

Our  Presbytery  is  now  in  session.  But  there  is  nothing 
of  any  importance  before  us.  We  have  no  candidates  for 
the  ministry ;  and  indeed  hardly  any  business  at  all  to  do. 
The  state  of  religion  is  very  unpromising  this  spring,  in 
most  of  the  congregations  among  us.  The  agreeable  ap- 
pearances which  presented  themselves  last  fall,  have  in  a 
great  degree  vanished,  and  the  church  now  presents  a 
dreary  scene  of  barrenness  and  desolation.  There  is,  how-  l 
ever,   a  prospect  of   doing  good  in   the  missionary  way. 


DOCTORRICE.  65 

But  the  scarcity  of  missionaries  is  deplorable.     Can  you 
help  us  in  this  particular? 

Here  I  must  pause  to  attend  to  the  business  of  Presby- 
tery. Joseph  Logan  has  accepted  a  call  from  the  Byrd 
congregation,  and  is  to  be  ordained  next  October.  John 
Hoge  has  taken  a  dismission,  to  put  himself  under  the  care 
of  Winchester  Presbytery.  This  is  all  the  Presbyterial 
news  that  I  have  to  communicate.  I  am  every  day  more 
and  more  disgusted  with  the  way  in  which  things  go  on 
amongst  us,  and  am  resolved  that  I  will  seek  another 
habitation.  Had  I  not  already  engaged  to  keep  school  next 
summer,  I  would,  as  soon  as  I  am  in  a  condition  to  travel, 
set  out  with  a  view  of  discovering  whether  there  is  not  some 
place  in  the  world  where  I  could  labour  with  more  comfort  to 
myself,  and  with  a  greater  prospect  of  usefulness  to  others. 
I  could  in  the  fall  be,  every  way,  completely  at  liberty ; 
but  winter  travelling  is  every  way  unsuitable.  Heaven  will, 
I  hope,  direct  me  what  I  ought  to  do. 

TO  MRS,  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Charlotte,  July  l'2th,  1811. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Have  you  never  had  the  tone  of  both  mind  and  body  so 
far  destroyed,  that  barely  to  live,  was  the  highest  thing  that 
you  could  even  think  of  aiming  at  ?  Uncertainty  and  per- 
plexity have  brought  my  mind,  and  this  blaze  of  the  sun  for 
the  last  ten  days  has  reduced  my  body  to  this  very  situa- 
tion. Were  I  as  mercurial  as  a  Frenchman  in  my  natural 
constitution,  I  should  by  this  time  have  been  made  as 
phlegmatic  as  a  Dutchman.  In  these  circumstances,  I 
only  write  that  I  may  redeem  a  promise  made  through  St. 
George ;  and  not  that  I  have  the  least  hope  either  of  edify- 
ing or  entertaining  my  friend. 

Upon  reflecting  on  what  I  have  said,  I  believe  that  I 
have  rather  overcharged  my  statement.  For  since  I  have 
had  the  pleasure  of  being  acquainted  with  you,  I  have  never 

*7 


66  MEMOIROF 

thought  of  you  without  feeling  a  deep  interest  in  your  hap- 
piness. I  have  considered  you  as  one,  who,  having  been 
tried  in  the  school  of  adversity,  knew  the  value  of  real, 
unpretended  friendship;  and  who,  of  course,  would  not, 
like  some  whom  I  have  known,  veer  about  in  affection,  as 
suddenly,  and  as  capriciously  as  the  winds  in  our  climate. 
I  have  considered  you  as  a  person,  too,  convinced  of  the 
insufficiency  of  all  that  we  call  good  on  earth,  to  satisfy  the 
human  heart,  and  amidst  many  difficulties  and  embarrass- 
ments, earnestly  desiring,  and  sincerely  endeavouring  to 
obtain  a  portion  in  that  "inheritance  which  is  incorruptible, 
undefiled,  and  which  shall  never  fade  away:  reserved  in 
heaven  for  all  who  are  kept  by  the  power  of  God,  through 
faith  unto  salvation."  I,  therefore,  who  am  not  unac- 
quainted with  sorrow,  who  know  the  worth  of  a  real 
friend,  who  have  also,  in  some  measure,  I  hope,  learned 
how  vain  the  world  is ;  and  how  desirable  is  a  portion  in  a 
better;  who  know,  too,  something  of  the  difficulties  and 
embarrassments  to  which  all  who  would  separate  them- 
selves from  the  world,  are  exposed,  could  not  become  ac- 
quainted with  you  without  at  once  feeling  for  you  that 
affectionate  regard,  which  is  ordinarily  the  result  of  long 
habits  of  intimacy.  I  know  not  how  it  is  that  I  feel  so 
much  as  though  1  had  been  your  friend  for  a  long  time. 
But  although  this,  I  know,  is  some  delusion  of  the  feelings, 
I  humbly  trust  that  the  hope  that  we  shall  be  friends  for- 
ever, in  a  purer  and  happier  M^orld  than  this,  will  not  prove 
deceptions.  01  how  diligent  ought  we  to  be  to  make 
"  our  calling  and  election  sz/re;"  that  is,  to  live  in  such  a 
way,  as  to  have  good  evidence  that  God  hath  chosen  us  to 
be  heirs  of  that  kingdom  that  never  can  be  moved.  I  have 
lately  been  considering  the  state  of  mind  in  which  the 
apostle  Paul  seemed  habitually  to  be  on  this  subject.  His 
language  is  such  as  this:  "  I  know  in  whom  I  have  be- 
lieved, and  I  am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that 
Avhich   I   have    committed   to   him    against    that    day" — . 


DOCTORRICE.  67 

*'  Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  will  give  me  in 
that  day ;  and  not  to  me  only,  but  to  all  Who  love  his  ap- 
pearing." Now,  the  apostle  had,  of  himself,  no  more 
power  to  attain  to  this  blessed  state  of  assurance,  than 
you  or  I  have.  "  By  the  grace  of  God,"  says  he,  "  I  am 
what  I  am."  Jesus  Christ  is  the  same,  yesterday,  to-day, 
and  forever.  He  has  the  same  grace  to  bestow  now 
upon  those  who  ask  him,  that  gave  the  Apostle  such  holy 
confidence,  and  raised  him  above  the  fears  of  death  and 
hell.  May  we,  my  dear  madam,  be  made  abundant  par- 
takers of  this  grace,  and  may  we  be  counted  worthy  to 
stand  among  those  who  surround  tlie  throne  of  God,  and 
dwell  at  his  right  hand,  where  is  fulness  of  joy  forever 
more ! 

Tudor  seems  very  anxious  to  see  his  aunt  H ,  before 

she  leaves  Bizarre.  I  am  willing  to  gratify  him  in  this, 
for  he  pleases  me  very  much  this  summer.  I  hope,  how- 
ever, that  he  will  return  to  school  very  early  next  week. 
He  is  now  of  that  age  that  every  hour  is  more  precious 
than  the  preceding. 

If  Mrs.  Rice  were  at  home  she  would  write.  And  T  am 
sure  she  would  not  be  pleased  to  know  that  1  had  written 
without  mentioning  her  to  you  in  terms  of  the  warmest 
affection.  Give  my  love  to  St.  George,  and  Miss  Sally. 
I  pray  for  you,  and  all  that  are  dear  to  you. 

I  am,  very  respectfully  and  sincerely,  yours,  &c. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Charlotte,  Sept.  9,  1811. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Upon  going  to  Richmond,  I  found  the  state  of  affairs 
somewhat  different  from  what  I  had  expected. 

I  preached  four  times ;  thrice  in  Richmond,  and  once  in 


68  MEMOIROP 

Manchester,  to  considerable  congregations  of  the  most  atten- 
tive people  that  I  ever  yet  saw.  In  Richmond,  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  aftection  among  the  people,  and  they  appear 
anxious  that  I  should  remove  to  that  place.  There  are  very 
many  among  them  who  feel  the  importance  of  religion.  The 
minds  of  the  generality  were  turned  to  the  subject,  but  ex- 
cept the  Episcopalians,  and  the  great  Presbyterians  on  the 
Hill,  they  do  not  seem,  at  least  the  great  bulk  of  them,  to 
know  any  thing  about  religious  doctrines,  or  the  difference 
about  religious  denominations.  They  are  indeed  as  sheep 
without  a  shepherd ; — like  a  vast  flock  in  the  wilderness, 
alarmed  and  running  in  every  direction,  without  knowing 
which  way  to  go.  They  seem  indeed  to  have  some  notion 
of  the  superiority  of  Presbyterianism  as  it  exists  somewhere, 
and  of  course  many  of  them  are  desirous  that  a  Presbyterian 
of  the  right  sort  should  come  among  them. 

The  opposition  of  the  great  men  on  the  Hill,  however, 
has  thrown  very  great  impediments  in  the  way  of  building  a 
church.  The  subscription,  I  believe,  has  very  nearly  stop- 
ped in  Richmond,  and  there  is  a  deficiency  of  at  least  three 
thousand  dollars.  They  have  no  hope  of  finishing  the  build- 
ing, of  which  the  foundation  has  been  laid,  unless  assistance 
is  afforded  them  by  the  friends  of  vital  religion  in  the  northern 
towns,  and  I  am  most  importunately  solicited  to  take  a  jour- 
ney to  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining aid  for  them.  Now,  do  you  think  that  to  have  a 
church  of  Christ  in  Richmond,  would  interest  the  people  and 
the  clergy  to  the  North,  so  that  a  journey  thither  would  not 
be  in  vain  ?  I  wish  that  you  would  as  soon  as  possible  give 
me  such  information  on  this  subject  as  you  can,  or  as  you 
judge  necessary.  I  have  some  inclination  to  help  these  poor 
people,  whether  I  live  among  them  or  not,  and  my  motions 
will  depend  very  much  upon  what  you  communicate. 
In  very  great  haste, 

I  am  as  ever, 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTORRICE.  69 


TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Staunton,  Oct.  I9th,  1811. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Your  letter  bearing  date  26th  ult.  has  been  received.  By 
the  preceding  mail  a  letter  was  received  from  Dr.  Miller,  in 
answer  to  one  I  had  written  him  on  the  same  subject  on 
which  I  addressed  you.  Dr.  Miller's  letter  was  still  more 
unfavourable  than  yours.  After  weighing  all  circumstances, 
I  have  determined  to  defer  my  journey  to  the  North  until 
next  spring.  In  the  mean  time  the  building  of  the  Rich- 
mond church  will  go  on,  and  probably  it  will  be  completed 
very  early  in  the  spring.  There  is  no  probability  of  my 
going  to  Richmond  before  that  period,  and  I  am  afraid  that 
the  few  pious  people  of  that  place  will  not  be  able  to  support 
me  without  a  school.  I  shall  continue  in  Charlotte  at  least 
until  the  spring. 

The  sessions  of  Synod  are  just  over.  Nothing  of  much 
importance  was  done,  except  in  relation  to  the  proposed 
amendments  of  the  Constitution.  As  soon  as  that  matter 
was  called  up,  I  moved  that  the  subject  should  be  postponed 
indefinitely.  Mr.  Baxter  spoke  against  the  motion,  and  Mr. 
Speece  in  favour  of  it,  when  the  question  was  taken  and 
carried  by  a  sweeping  majority  of  twenty-three,  I  think,  to 
three.  So  that  this  matter  is  laid  to  rest  for  the  present. 
So  far,  you  will  say,  so  good. 

I  hope  that  the  meeting  of  Synod  at  this  place  has  not 
been  a  vain  thing.  Mr.  Calhoun  thinks  that  he  never  saw 
such  agitation  here  before.  Several  members  have  been 
added  to  the  church ;  I  do  not  know  how  many,  but  I  be- 
lieve not  fewer  than  seven  or  eight.  I  think  that  the  con- 
gregation, to-day,  was  one  of  the  most  solemn  that  I  have 
lately  seen. 

Our  Presbytery  sat  last  week.  Mr.  Logan  was  ordained, 
and  installed  pastor  of  the  Byrd  congregation.    The  appear- 


70  MEMOIROF 

ances  at  that  place  were  very  favourable.  We  had  more 
good  preaching  than  I  have  heard  lately  from  so  many 
preachers.  Upon  the  whole,  I  think  that  the  state  of  reli- 
gion is  more  favourable  now  than  it  has  been  for  several 
years.  May  these  things  not  be  like  the  morning  cloud,  or 
like  the  early  dew  I 

Whilst  things  were  in  this  train,  and  he  was  still  hesitat- 
ing what  to  do,  an  event  happened  which  had,  no  doubt,  great 
weight  in  deciding  his  course,  as  well  as  in  preparing  the  field 
for  his  future  labours.  This  was  the  memorable  burning  of 
the  theatre  in  Richmond,  on  the  night  of  the  26ih  of  Decem- 
ber, 1811,  which  involved  the  loss  of  many  valuable  lives, 
and  spread  mourning  and  lamentation  throughout  the  city, 
and  throughout  the  whole  state.  It  was  indeed  no  false  play 
that  evening;  but,  really  and  truly,  one  of  the  deepest  trage- 
dies that  had  ever  been  exhibited  on  the  stage  of  human  life, 
and  admirably  calculated  to  "purge  the  passions'*  of  all  who 
either  saw  or  heard  of  it,  by  the  "  pity  and  terror"  which  it 
could  not  fail  to  excite  in  every  breast.  The  theatre,  it 
seems,  which  was  unfortunately  built  entirely  of  wood,  and 
otherwise  badly  constructed,  stood  upon  the  brow  of  Shock- 
hoe  hill,  where  it  begins  to  fall  into  the  great  ravine  below, 
and  upon  the  very  spot  which  is  now  the  site  of  what  is 
called  the  Monumental  Church.  At  this  time,  it  was  being 
used  by  the  Charleston  company  of  players,  under  the  man- 
agement of  Messrs.  Placide,  Green,  and  Twaits,  who  were 
performing  in  it  with  great  success.  On  this  night,  particu- 
larly, a  new  play  and  pantomime  had  been  got  up  for  the 
benefit  of  Mr.  Placide,  who  was  a  favourite  of  the  town ; 
and  a  large  and  brilliant  crowd  of  gentlemen  and  ladies,  of 
the  very  flower  of  the  population,  embracing  Mr.  Smith,  the 
newly  elected  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  Mr.  Abra- 
ham Venable,  formerly  a  senator  of  the  United  States,  and 
now  President  of  the  Bank  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Botts,  an  emi- 
nent lawyer,  and  many  others,  members  of  the  General  Assem- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  71 

bly,  and  citizens  of  wealth  and  fashion,  were  assembled  at  an 
early  hour  to  enjoy  the  entertainments  of  the  evening.  It 
was  truly  a  brilliant  display;  and,  for  some  time,  all  went  on 
gaily  and  happily  enough.  The  play  was  over — the  first  act 
of  the  pantomime  had  passed  by — the  second  and  last  was 
now  begun — and  all  eyes  were  intently  fixed  upon  the  actor, 
who  had  come  forward  on  the  stage  towards  the  lights,  and 
was  moving  to  the  music  of  the  orchestra — when  suddenly 
a  bustling  noise  was  heard  from  behind  the  scenes,  towards 
the  rear  of  the  building.  This,  it  seems,  was  occasioned  by 
the  fact  that  a  servant  who  had  been  ordered  to  hoist  up  a  chan- 
delier, in  doing  so  had  got  the  rope  hitched,  and  jerking  to 
clear  it,  had  swung  the  thing  against  one  of  the  painted 
scenes,  which  instantly  caught  fire,  and  sent  up  a  sheet  of 
flame  to  the  roof.  This  unfortunately  was  not  plaistered, 
but  consisted  only  of  rafters  covered  with  light  pine  boards, 
and  shingles,  very  dry,  so  that  it  kindled  at  once ;  and  the 
actors,  with  their  assistants,  were  trying  to  tear  down  the 
scenes,  to  put  out  the  fire.  This  movement,  however,  was 
not  immediately  seen  by  the  spectators,  being  hid  from  their 
view  by  the  interposing  scene ;  and  they  were  still  watching 
the  progress  of  the  piece,  when  they  saw  a  shower  of  sparks 
and  burning  matter  fall  upon  the  actor  before  them.  At  this 
fc:ome  were  startled,  while  others  apparently  thought  that  it 
might  be  only  a  part  of  the  show.  A  moment  afterwards, 
some  one  exclaimed,  "  There  is  no  danger,"  and  only 
forced  the  sense  of  it  more  strongly  upon  their  fears  ;  when 
Mr.  Hopkins  Robinson,  one  of  the  performers,  rushed  for- 
ward to  the  front  of  the  stage,  and  cried,  "  the  house  is  on 
fire," — pointing  at  the  same  time  to  the  ceiling,  where  the 
fire  was  now  seen  running  like  lightning  along  the  roof.  In- 
stantly, all  was  horror  and  dismay.  The  cry  of  "  fire," 
"  fire,"  rang  through  the  building,  mingled  with  the  shrieks 
of  women  and  children,  in  frantic  consternation.  Husbands 
looked  for  their  wives — mothers  for  their  children — while 


72  MEMOIROF 

some,  almost  frenzied  by  the  sense  of  clanger,  thought  only 
of  themselves. 

There  was,  of  course,  a  general  rush  of  all  at  once  to 
escape  out  of  the  house  as  fast  as  possible,  by  the  nearest  ! 
way.  Those  in  the  pit  easily  got  to  the  outer  door,  which 
was  not  far  off.  Those  in  the  galleries  also,  or  most  of 
them,  flying  down  the  stairs,  soon  emerged  into  the  street. 
But  the  spectators  in  the  boxes  were  not  so  fortunate. 
Some  few  of  them,  indeed,  had  leaped  into  the  pit,  and  got 
out  with  the  rest  from  that  part,  and  a  few  others  had  been 
helped  on  to  the  stage,  and  hurried  off  the  back  way; 
while  a  small  number  still  bravely  kept  their  seats,  only  to 
meet  the  fate  which  they  hoped  to  avoid;  but  the  great 
mass  of  them,  crowding  tumultuously  into  the  narroW 
lobbies,  in  the  wildest  disorder,  stopped  each  others 
progress  towards  the  door,  while  the  suffocating  smoke 
which  soon  filled  the  house,  extinguished  the  lights,  and 
stifled  its  victims ;  and  the  flames  which  now  flashed  in 
lurid  sheets,  as  they  ran  along  the  light  wooden  work  of 
the  boxes,  caught  the  clothes  of  the  fugitives  in  the  rear, 
and  wrapped  them  at  once  in  palls  of  fire  and  death. 
Happy  now  were  those  who  had  reached  the  windows, 
where  a  stream  of  fresh  air  from  without  revived  their 
failing  senses,  and  enabled  them  to  hurry  on  for  their  lives, 
or  to  escape  perhaps  to  the  ground.  For  by  this  time,  many 
of  those  who  had  got  out  from  the  pit  and  galleries,  were 
seen  gathered  in  crowds  below,  stretching  out  their  arms, 
and  calling  on  those  within  to  leap  into  them  for  safety. 
Some  did  so  from  the  first,  and  some  even  from  the  second 
story ;  and  a  number  escaped  in  this  way,  while  a  few  were 
either  killed,  or  shockingly  mangled  by  the  fall.  Those,  in  the 
meantime,  who  had  succeeded  so  far  as  to  clear  the  lobbies, 
found  themselves  again  stopped,  and  straitened  in  the  narrow 
angular  stairs  that  ran  from  the  landing  of  the  boxes  into 
the  common  entry,  or  pent  up  in  the  small  passage  at  the 


DOCTOR    RICE.  73 

bottom,  where  the  only  door  which  opened  inwards  had 
been  shut  to  by  the  rushing  crowd,  and  could  not  be 
forced  back  for  some  time,  even  by  the  help  of  hands  from 
without.  Here,  then,  some  were  crushed  to  death  by 
others,  who,  even  less  happy,  emerged  at  last  over  their 
dead  bodies,  through  the  door  now  opened,  but  horribly 
scorched  or  burnt,  and  only  to  die  in  the  arms  of  their 
shuddering  friends. 

By  this  time,  (although  only  six  or  seven  minutes  had 
passed,)  the  whole  house  was  in  a  light  blaze,  that  bright- 
ened the  windows  of  the  houses  far  and  near  with  its  dismal 
light;  the  bells  were  tolling  with  most  appalling  sound ;  and 
hundreds  of  citizens,  roused  from  their  beds,  and  alarmed 
for  the  safety  of  their  relatives  and  friends,  were  rushing  to 
the  scene,  but  too  late  to  save,  or  find  them.  The  rest  may 
be  imagined,  but  cannot,  and  perhaps  ought  not  to  be 
described.  There  was  no  sleep  in  Richmond  that  night; 
but  candles  were  burning  in  all  the  houses,  and  the  voice  of 
■\veeping  was  heard  from  many  dwellings. 

The  day  after  this  awful  occurrence,  the  Common  Council 
of  the  city  convened,  and  passed  a  resolution  prohibiting  all 
public  amusements  within  the  limits,  for  four  months  en- 
suing ;  and  a  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  in  the  capitol, 
at  which  it  was  resolved,  that  the  remains  of  the  dead 
should  be  collected  and  buried  together  on  the  spot  where 
they  had  expired;  and  that  a  monument  should  be  raised 
over  them  to  record  the  remembrance  of  their  fate.  And  it 
was  also  determined,  that  a  day  should  be  set  apart  for 
fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer,  in  commemoration  of  an 
event,  in  which  all  who  had  any  sense  of  piety  could  not 
but  see  and  acknowledge,  that  the  hand  of  God  had  been 
most  strikingly  and  affectingly  displayed. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  news  of  this  dreadful  disaster  was 
flying  rapidly  all  over  the  state,  and  soon  reached  the  ears 
of  Mr.  Rice,  who  could  not  help  feeling,  very  naturally,  a 
sort  of  personal  interest  in  the  event.     The  following  letter. 


74  MEMOIROF 

which  he  wrote  immediately  afterwards,  will  show  the  effect 
which  it  produced  upon  his  mind. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Charlotte,  Jariy  1st,  1812. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

"  You  have  no  doubt  heard  more  of  the  particulars  of  the 
late  dispensation  of  Providence  in  Richmond  than  I  have. 
How  awful !  For  so  many,  by  one  dreadful  stroke,  to  be 
hurried  from  the  midst  of  amusements  and  gaiety,  to  the  bar 
of  God  and  to  eternity,  is  shocking  to  the  mind  even  of  the 
most  unfeeling.  Did  you  ever  know  an  event  so  calculated 
to  impress  upon  our  minds  the  words  of  the  wise  man, 
"Vanity  of  vanities:  all  is  vanity?"  "  Surely  man  in  his 
best  estate  is  altogether  vanity."  I  heard  of  the  melancholy 
event  last  Sabbath,  just  as  I  was  going  into  the  court  house 
to  preach.  It  made  such  an  impression  on  my  mind,  that  I 
could  not  resist  the  impulse  to  lay  aside  the  text  on  which  I 
had  intended  to  preach,  and  to  deliver  an  extempore  dis- 
course from  the  fortieth  chapter  of  Isaiah,  and  perhaps  the 
sixth  verse.  "And  the  voice  said,  cry.  And  he  said  what 
shall  I  cry?  All  flesh  is  as  grass,  &c."  Happy  would  it 
be  for  us  could  we  constantly  realize  this,  and  live  as  if  every 
year  and  every  day  were  to  be  our  last. — I  have  been,  as  far 
as  I  could  find  time,  endeavouring  to  recollect  my  thoughts 
and  ways  during  the  last  year.  I  find  much  to  reprehend  in' 
myself;  much  for  which  to  be  ashamed  and  humbled.  I 
have  been  endeavouring  to  form  good  resolutions  about  my 
future  life.  But  I  fear  they  will  be  like  resolutions  made 
before — a  salve  to  the  conscience  for  the  present.  1  am  sure 
that  without  the  al'-sufficiency  of  a  Saviour  I  shall  never  do 
any  thing.  Unless  God  work  in  me  both  to  will  and  to  do, 
1  shall  never  work  out  my  salvation.  May  God  give  us  all 
needed  grace,  and  finally  crown  "  that  grace  with  glory." 


DOCTORRICE.  75 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Charlotte,  Jan'y  llth,  1812. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

You  will  perhaps  be  surprised  to  hear  that  Mr.  Lyle  and 
I  expect  to  have  the  pleasure  of  taking  breakfast  with  you 
next  Tuesday  morning  on  our  way  to  Richmond.  Some  of 
my  friends  there  have  so  earnestly  solicited  me  to  go  down 
since  the  late  awful  visitation  of  Providence  on  that  place, 
that  I  had  not  a  heart  to  refuse.  I  am  most  anxious  that  so 
much  distress  should  not  be  suffered  in  vain ;  that  the  great- 
est disaster  which  has  ever  befallen  the  city  may  be  an  occa- 
sion of  producing  the  best  effects  that  can  result  from  any 
event  whatever.  This  surely  is  the  prayer  of  every  one  that 
has  the  heart  of  a  christian.  But  one  cannot  expect  that  this 
will  be  the  case  unless  proper  measures  are  adopted  for  this 
purpose.  And  what  more  suitable  than  evangelical  preach- 
ing? If  my  friends  there  think  that  my  poor  labours  will 
probably  be  useful  in  this  way,  ought  I  not  to  go  at  their 
call,  and  depend  upon  the  promised  aid  of  the  Spirit?  He 
can  make  use  of  the  most  inefficient  means  to  produce  the 
most  important  effects.  Will  you  not  pray,  my  dear  friend, 
that  I  may  go,  as  the  Apostle  went  to  Rome,  "  in  the  fulness 
of  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ?" 

1  will  mention  to  you  in  confidence,  that  the  people  of 
Richmond  who  had  applied  to  me  to  remove  to  that  place, 
persevere  in  their  application,  and  are  resolved  to  carry  their 
request  to  Presbytery;  and  1  have  informed  them  that  if  the 
Presbytery  should  advise  my  removal,  that  I  will  go;  so 
that  it  is  not  impossible  that  I  shall  be  an  inhabitant  of  Rich- 
mond before  the  year  comes  to  a  close. 

If  you  have  any  business  of  any  kind  that  I  can  attend  to 
below,  I  will  most  cheerfully  do  so.  To  be  useful  to  my 
friends  is  one  of  the  highest  pleasures  of  my  life.  Would 
to  heaven  I  could  be  made  instrumental  in  promoting  their 


76  MEMOIROF 

everlasting  interests ;  their  "  growth  in  grace,  and  in  the 
knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ !"  My 
earnest  prayer  for  you,  my  dear  friend,  is  that  "  forgetting 
the  things  which  are  behind,  you  may  press  forward  towards 
the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus."  And  I  have  no  better  prayer  for  myself.  We  are 
never  so  happy  as  when  we  are  conscious  of  improvement. 
How  pleasant  is  the  flight  of  time  when  we  have  reason  to 
believe  that  it  is  bearing  us  towards  that  ^'  rest  which  remain- 
eth  for  the  people  of  God  !" 

Mrs.  Rice  and  the  whole  family  unite  in  expressions  of 
most  friendly  regard  for  you,  and  all  that  are  yours.  May 
Heaven  bless  you  abundantly! 

I  am,  very  respectfully, 

Your  assured  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  JQDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Charlotte,  March  6th,  1812. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  have  for  some  time  past  wished  for  an  opportunity  of 
writing  to  you,  and  yet  I  have  nothing  particularly  interest- 
ing to  communicate.  All,  I  believe,  that  I  wanted,  was  to 
keep  up  the  intercourse  of  friendship  between  us.  Per- 
haps, however  my  wish  was  the  stronger,  because  I  am  at 
present  in  considerable  perplexity.  The  question  about 
my  removal  to  Richmond  is  now  pressed  with  vehemence, 
and  must  be  decided  in  a  very  short  time.  I  have  no  doubt, 
indeed,  of  its  being  the  earnest  wish  of  many  of  the  people 
of  that  city,  that  I  should  labour  in  the  Gospel  among 
them;  and,  if  I  am  rightly  informed,  a  number  of  distin- 
guished characters  there  wish  for  my  coming.  That  a  wide 
field  is  opened  there  for  the  labours  of  a  pious  and  faithful 
minister  of  the  gospel,  is  certain.  But  I  really  feel  unfeigned 
diffidence  in  my  own   powers.     The   preacher  who   sets 


DOCTORRICE.  77 

himself  against  the  current  there,  has  need  of  great 
strength.  We  all  know  that  our  sufficiency  is  of  God; 
but  yet  we  know  that  in  the  divine  government  means 
are  adapted  to  ends;  and,  of  course,  that  it  is  presumptuous 
in  us  to  hope  for  the  accomplishment  of  any  event  without 
the  use  of  suitable  measures.  You  can  easily  see  from 
these  hints  the  state  of  my  mind;  and,  as  I  am  sure  that 
you  feel  for  your  friend  in  his  difficulties,  so  I  am  confident 
that  you  will  pray  that  the  Author  of  all  wisdom  may 
direct  him.  I  wish  to  be  in  that  place  where  I  can  do 
most  to  promote  the  cause  of  vital  religion. 

I  shall  always  rejoice  to  hear  of  Mr.  Meade's  success.* 
Although  I  never  saw  him,  I  feel  towards  him  as  a  brother 
in  the  gospel  of  Christ  Jesus.  Would  there  were  many 
such  as  he!  Sometimes  the  thought  comes  in  a  most 
pleasing  manner  into  my  mind,  perhaps  the  day  may  come 
w^hen  our  dear  Tudor  will  also  engage  in  this  most  holy, 
most  dignified  calling.  This  is  the  first  hint  that  I  have  ever 
dropped  of  such  a  thing;  but  indeed  I  do  not  think  with 
any  complacency  of  the  Law.  I  cannot  bear  the  thought 
that  his  fine  moral  sensibilities,  instead  of  being  improved, 
should  be  weakened,  I  may  say,  deadened,  by  the  coarse 
contentions  of  the  bar;  and  the  perpetual  displays,  not  to 
say  defences  of  the  most  atrocious  villany,  in  our  courts. 
I  will,  however,  say  no  more  on  this  subject  at  present. 
Indeed  it  is  time  that  I  should  come  to  a  close.  May 
every  blessing  from  the  Father  of  Mercies  crown  your  life ! 
May  the  Lord  God  dwell  in  your  household,  and  in  your 
hearth  The  Lord  give  you  grace  and  glory,  and  withhold 
no  good  thing  from  you!  These  are  the  affectionate 
prayers  of  Anne  S.  and 

John  H.  Rice. 

*  The  Rev.  Wm.  Meade,  of  the  Episcopal  church,  at  that  time,  I 
believe,  pastor  of  a  church  in  Frederick  county,  and  now  Assistant 
Bishop  of  the  Diocess  of  Virginia. 

8* 


78  MEMOIROF 

Soon  after  the  date  of  this  last  letter,  at  the  session  of 
the  Presbytery  which  was  held  at  Red  Oak  church,  on 
the  12th  of  March,  1812,  "  a  call  from  a  number  of  persons 
in  Richmond  and  its  vicinity  attached  to  the  Presbyterian 
church"  was  regularly  presented  to  him  by  their  agent, 
through  the  Moderator,  which  (on  the  day  after)  he  accepted 
in  due  form ;  and  the  Presbytery,  thereupon,  declared  the 
pastoral  relation  between  him  and  the  congregation  of  Cub 
Creek  dissolved.  After  this,  nothing  remained  to  be  done 
but  to  take  leave  of  his  late  flock,  and  repair  to  his  new  field 
of  labour.  This,  accordingly,  he  hastened  to  do,  as  soon  as 
possible ;  and  on  the  fourth  Sabbath  of  the  following  month, 
we  find,  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon  to  his  -'dear  Char- 
lotte people,"  (as  he  calls  them  in  a  note,)  from  Acts  xx.  32. 
And  now,  brethren,  I  commend  you  to  God,  and  to  the  word 
of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you 
an  inheritance  among  all  them  ivhich  are  sanctified — a  dis- 
course full  of  pious  sentiment  and  kind  feeling,  which  (aided 
no  doubt  by  the  touching  solemnity  of  the  occasion,)  went 
home  to  all  their  hearts.  Accordingly,  we  are  told,  when 
he  came  down  from  the  pulpit,  they  all  crowded  about  him, 
(many  weeping,)  to  give  him  the  last  assurances  of  their 
affection,  and  to  receive  his  parting  blessing;  while  the  poor 
blacks,  in  their  turn,  pressed  forward  to  reach  him,  and,  seiz- 
ing his  hand  with  all  the  ardour  of  their  warm  and  hearty 
attachment,  absolutely  bathed  it  with  their  tears. 

Soon  afterwards,  leaving  Charlotte,  he  repaired  to  Rich- 
mond, where  he  arrived  early  in  May,  (1812,)  and  entering 
upon  the  duties  of  his  new  charge  without  a  moment's  delay, 
he  preached  his  first  sermon,  on  the  Sunday  following,  (the 
second  Sunday  in  May  of  this  year,)  in  the  Mason's  Hall, 
(the  church  not  being  yet  finished,)  from  the  appropriate  and 
almost  prophetic  text,  Rom.  xv.  29.  And  I  am  sure  that 
when  I  C07ne  unto  you,  I  shall  come  in  the  fulness  of  the 
blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  On  this  occasion,  as  we 
hear,  the  house  was  crowded  to  overflowing,  and  many  were 


DOCTORRICE.  79 

deeply  impressed  by  his  discourse,  which  seemed  to  be  in 
power,  and  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  indeed.  After 
this,  he  continued  preaching  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  in  the 
same  place,  (and  occasionally  in  the  Capitol,)  and,  on  the 
evenings  of  other  days,  during  the  week,  at  different  private 
houses ;  and  many  persons  (especially  ladies)  of  all  churhes, 
heard  him  gladly.  Some  of  those,  more  particularly, 
who  had  lost  relatives  or  friends  in  the  late  disaster,  and 
whose  hearts  the  Lord  had  thus  opened  to  attend  to  the  things 
which  ivere  spoken  of  him,  waited  upon  his  ministry  with 
earnest  affection,  and  hung  upon  his  lips  with  a  satisfaction 
which  they  had  never  experienced  before. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 

Richmond,  May  I4th,  1812. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

You  will  perceive  by  the  date  of  this  letter  that  I  have 
changed  my  place  of  residence.  We  arrived  here  on 
Friday  last,  and  mean  to  continue  here  until  Providence 
directs  our  removal  to  some  other  place. 

The  breaking  up  in  Charlotte  was  a  very  severe  trial. 
Neither  the  people  nor  I  knew  until  parting  time  came, 
how  much  we  loved  one  another.  We  parted,  however,  in 
the  warmest  friendship ;  and  I  hope  that  the  affection  of 
my  dear  people  (for  so  I  must  call  them,)  for  me  will  con- 
tinue, as  I  am  sure  that  mine  will  for  them. 

We  have  been  here  so  short  a  time,  that  we  have  not  yet 
found  a  place  of  permanent  abode;  we  however  have  no 
difficulty  in  getting  temporary  lodgings. 

I  was  received  very  cordially  by  the  people,  and  preached 
twice  last  Sabbath,  to  a  very  large  audience.  The  people 
generally  were  very  attentive,  and  not  a  few  considerably 
affected.  I  was  surprised  to  observe  the  very  great  num- 
bers  who  attend  church  in  this  place.  Every  house  of 
worship  was  crowded ;  and  I  was  told  that  not  less  than 


80  MEMOTROF 

five  hundred  went  away  from  the  Mason's  Hall  (where  I 
preached,)  unable  to  find  seats. 

A  spirit  of  reading,  and  of  inquiry  for  religious  truth,  is 
spreading  rapidly  among  our  town  folks.  I  have  proposed 
to  several  to  establish  a  Christian  Library  in  the  city.  The 
proposition  meets  with  much  acceptance,  and  I  hope  to  be 
able  to  tell  you  in  my  next  how  many  subscribers  we 
shall  probably  obtain.  If  this  plan  succeeds,  my  next 
effort  will  be  to  establish  a  Bible  Society.  Of  the  success 
of  such  an  undertaking  I  am  not  able  to  form  the  least 
conjecture;  but  I  am  adopting  some  measures  to  ascertain 
the  extent  of  the  want  of  Bibles  here,  which  I  fear  is  ex- 
ceedingly great  considering  the  population. 

The  spirit  of  religious  inquiry  is,  I  am  convinced,  ex- 
tending its  influence  considerably  in  several  parts  of  old 
Virginia.  Mr.  Speece  has  been  urging  me  vehemently  to 
undertake  the  editorship  of  a  periodical  work,  having  some- 
thing of  the  form  of  a  Magazine.  His  plan  is  to  publish, 
once  in  two  weeks,  a  sheet  containing  sixteen  8vo  pages ; 
to  be  devoted  to  the  cause  of  truth  and  piety.  I  believe 
that  such  a  thing,  if  well  conducted,  would  meet  with  very 
considerable  encouragement;  and  if  I  could  engage  the 
assistance  of  a  few  of  my  brethren,  I  would  willingly 
make  an  experiment  of  the  matter.  Could  you  give  any 
thing  in  this  way  to  your  native  state,  and  to  your  old 
friends  ?  I  fear  that  your  time  is  already  so  much  occupied 
that  the  request  must  appear  unreasonable ;  but  I  venture  to 
make  it. 

I  have  been  to  see  Mr.  Blair  since  I  came  to  town.  He 
received  me  in  a  friendly  way,  and  assured  me  of  his  dis- 
position to  cultivate  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love.  On  my  part 
I  feel  the  same  temper,  and  I  hope  that  every  thing  will  go 
on  very  harmoniously.  I  however  feel  very  much  my 
need  of  the  counsel  and  advice  of  a  brother  for  whom  I 
feel  a  more  zealous  friendship  than  I  expect  ever  to  feel  for  \ 


D  O  C  TOR      E  I  CE.  81 

any  other  man.  O !  that  you  were  near  me !  But  I  will 
have  done  with  fruitless  wishes.  I  hope  now  to  hear  from 
you  more  frequently  than  ever. 

I  am  afraid  that  the  good  people  here  will  find  it  hard  to 
pay  for  the  completion  of  their  church.  It  is  now  sheeted 
in.  The  shingles,  flooring  plank,  and  pews  are  all  in 
readiness ;  but  their  fund  is  exhausted,  and  they  will  be 
very  much  pestered  to  raise  a  sufficiency  for  their  purposes. 
Will  not  the  brethren  afford  us  aid ;  will  not  the  people  to 
the  North  assist  us  ?  The  Methodists  have  built  a  new 
church  here,  and  expect  to  pay  for  it  in  part  in  that  way. 
An  agent  went  on  very  lately  from  this  place  to  solicit  aid, 
and  two  days  ago  he  forwarded  from  Baltimore  six  hundred 
and  forty  dollars  for  the  church. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  with  me  in  sincere  regard  for  you  and 
Mrs.  Alexander.  Give  my  love  to  James,  and  all  the  boys. 
May  Heaven  bless  you  and  yours — so  we  pray. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH, 

Olney,  (near  Richmond,)  May  29th,  1812. 

"  I  have  just  returned  from  Norfolk  whither  I  went  last 
week  for  the  purpose  of  administering  the  sacrament  to  a 
small  Presbyterian  congregation  in  that  place.  I  am  glad 
that  I  went;  for  I  have  reason  to  hope  that  it  was  not  in 
vain. 

I  have  a  comfortable  hope  that  I  shall  be  an  instrument  of 
doing  good  in  Richmond.  The  prospect  at  present  is  that 
I  shall  preach  to  very  considerable  numbers  of  people,  and 
may  we  not  hope  that  the  gospel  will  prove  *'  a  savour  of  life 
unto  life  among  them."     You  will  not  forget  to  pray  for  my 


82  MEMOIROF 

TO  MR.  THEODORIC  T.  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  Aug.  Sth,  1812. 
My  Dear  Tudor, 

Your  letter  from  Philadelphia  was  received  in  due  time 
and  that  bearing  date  Aug.  1,  is  now  before  me.  I  should 
have  written  before  now  had  it  not  been  for  two  reasons. 
Your  movements  were  so  uncertain  that  for  some  time  I 
could  only  direct  a  letter  by  conjecture ;  and  when  I  learned 
from  your  uncle  that  you  had  arrived  at  Cambridge,  Mrs. 
Rice  was  in  such  a  state  of  ill-health,  that  to  attend  her,  and 
discharge  the  duties  of  my  profession,  was  as  much  as  I 
could  do. 

The  account  which  you  gave  me  of  your  situation  and  em- 
ployments was  interesting  both  to  Mrs.  Rice  and  myself;  as 
indeed  is  every  thing  that  relates  to  you.  I  should  be  pleased 
if  in  your  next  you  would  be  a  little  more  particular  in  rela- 
tion to  the  mode  of  teaching  pursued  at  Cambridge.  What 
grammar  is  used  ?  Do  they  enter  more  fully  into  the  struc- 
ture of  the  Greek  language,  and  direct  your  attention  to  more 
particulars  than  your  former  teacher?  Are  they  very  atten- 
tive to  pronunciation  and  to  prosody?  And  finally,  if  it  will 
not  be  "telling  tales  out  of  school,"  do  you  see  many  evi- 
dences of  profound  literature  about  college? 

I  will  thank  you  to  let  me  know  at  what  prices  the  fol- 
lowing Greek  books  can  be  procured,  Polybius,  Xenophon's 
Works,  Pausanius,  Herodotus,  and  Thucydides,  if  perchance 
the  two  last  can  be  procured.  But  above  every  thing,  I 
wish  you  to  get  for  me  a  copy  of  Schleusner's  Lexicon  of 
the  Greek  Testament.  This  is  the  book  which  of  all  others 
I  most  wish  at  present  to  procure.  I  shoul(i*like  pretty  well 
to  have  a  neat  copy  of  the  Cambridge  Griesbach,  if  it  could 
be  procured  on  moderate  terms. 

Your  prudence  will  no  doubt  suggest  to  you  the  propriety 
of  avoiding  politics  while  you  are  at  college.     Students  had 


ii 


DOCTORRICE.  83 

much  better  leave  school  when  once  their  minds  become 
heated  by  party  contentions.  But  on  this  subject  I  hope 
that  it  is  perfectly  unnecessary  for  me  to  add  another  word. 

I  am  very  glad  to  hear  that  you  conform  to  the  regula- 
tions of  college.  Virginians  are  very  usually  thought,  by 
the  people  among  whom  you  now  reside,  to  be  disorderly 
and  rebellious.  I  indulge  the  hope,  however,  that  you  will 
do  much  to  redeem  the  character  of  your  native  State  from 
the  reproach  that  has  been  cast  upon  it,  in  the  community  of 
which  you  are  a  member.  The  point  of  honour  with  col- 
lege boys  should  be  complete  and  uniform  submission  to  the 
laws.  I  trust  that  you  will  distinguish  yourself  in  this  way, 
as  well  as  by  your  temperance,  sobriety,  and  diligence  in 
study.  As  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  you  intend  to  act  as 
your  best  friends  wish  that  you  should,  I  think  that  it 
would  not  be  inexpedient  to  let  your  associates  know  what 
your  sentiments  and  purposes  are.  Should  it  be  understood, 
from  the  beginning,  that  you  have  made  up  your  mind,  that 
it  is  a  decided  point  with  you,  that  you  will  regulate  your 
conduct  by  college  laws,  and  that  you  will  on  no  account 
engage  in  riots,  rebellions,  schemes  of  opposition  to  author- 
ity, or  courses  of  dissipation,  you  will  both  ensure  the  re- 
spect of  the  bad,  and  the  friendship  of  the  good  ;  and  will  in 
fact  be  less  exposed  to  temptation  than  if  your  purposes 
should  be  kept  to  yourself. 

I  had  much  more  to  say,  but  have  only  room  now  to  add  that 
Mrs.  Rice  and  I  think  of  you  with  parental  affection,  and 
often  pray  that  your  mother's  God  may  be  your  God  also; 
that  he  may  be  your  guide,  your  protector,  your  present  and 
everlasting  portion. 

Mrs.  R.  will  write  soon.  Let  me  hear  from  you  very 
often.     Heaven  forever  bless  you  my  son. 

Your  affectionate 

John  H.  Rice. 


84  MEMOIROF 

TO  MR.  THEODORIC  T.  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  Jlugust  2bth,  1812. 
My  Dear  Tudor, 

I  returned  a  few  days  ago  from  Prince  Edward.  Mrs. 
Rice  accompanied  me  on  my  way  from  major  Morton's, 
as  far  as  Bizarre.  Your  excellent  mother  was  in  better 
health  than  I  have  ever  seen  her  enjoy  before.  She  has 
fattened  considerably,  and  has  a  line  healthy  complexion. 

I  received  this  morning  the  very  interesting  catalogue  of 
books  to  be  sold  in  Boston  on  to-morrow.  Would  I  were 
there  to  purchase  some  of  them!  But  a  truce  to  vain 
wishes.  I  fear  that  you  have  only  excited  my  anxiety  to 
possess  some  of  the  rare  books  in  that  library,  without 
putting  it  in  my  power  to  gratify  my  wishes.  The  sale 
will  probably  be  over  long  before  this  letter  can  reach  you. 
Should  this  by  good  fortune  not  be  the  case,  I  hope  that 
you  will  purchase  the  following  works  for  me  at  all  events, 
or  any  of  them  that  you  can  procure :  Schleusner's  Lexi- 
con, Wetstein's  Greek  Testament,  fol.,  Masclef's  Hebrew 
Grammar,  Trommii  ConcordanticE,  2  vols.,  C.  Noldii  Con- 
cordantia,  1  vol.  4to.;  Nov.  Testament,  Syriace,  Graece,  et 
Latine;  J.  J.  Wetstenii  Libelli  ad  crisin  atque  interpreta- 
tionem  N.  T.  Hale,  Mag.  1766. 

There  are  many  other  works  in  the  catalogue  which  I 
should  be  delighted  to  have.  I  believe  that  I  will  send 
you  a  list  of  them,  and  get  the  favour  of  you  to  make  in- 
quiries, and  ascertain  for  me  whether  they  can  be  gotten  in 
Boston,  and  at  what  prices ;  and  also,  whether  any  rare 
and  valuable  works  are  to  be  bought  occasionally  at  auction 
there. 

I  need  not  ask  you  to  excuse  the  trouble  which  I  am  im- 
posing on  you.  I  am  so  well  assured  of  your  regard  for  me, 
and  of  your  willingness  to  oblige,  that  I  ask  you  without 
hesitation  to  do  whatever  is  in  your  power  for  my  gratifica- 
tion and  benefit.     I  need  not  add,  that  I  am  ready  to  pro- 


DOCTORRICE.  85 

mote  your  interest  and  happiness  as  far  as  is  in  my  power. 
My  daily  prayer  is  that  heaven  may  bless  and  preserve 
you. 

My  brother  is  here.  He  remembers  you  with  friend- 
ship. If  Mrs.  Rice  were  present,  she  would  send  some 
message  of  love  to  her  dear  boy.  She  loves  you  next  to 
your  mother,  and  your  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  THEODORIC  T.  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  September  23d,  1812. 
My  Dear  Tudor, 

I  liope  from  the  manner  of  your  letter  that  you  are  under 
the  influence  of  that  emulation  of  which  you  speak,  and 
that  you  are  making  rapid  progress  in  sound  learning. 
But  take  care  of  your  health.  Remember,  as  winter  ap- 
proaches, that  you  are  strongly  predisposed  to  inflammatory 
complaints,  and  take  heed  of  skating  and  sleighing.  Forget 
not  that  the  hopes  of  your  mother  are  fixed  on  you ;  that 
her  heart  is  bound  up  in  yours;  for  her  sake,  and  your 
own,  and  mine,  take  care  of  your  health. 

I  thank  you  for  the  purchase  of  Pearson  and  Noldius. 
I  hope  that  you  will  be  able  to  find  some  safe  way  of  con- 
veyance for  them,  and  for  some  other  books  which  I  shall 
get  the  favour  of  you  to  purchase  for  me  before  long.  At 
present,  however,  I  have  not  time  to  make  a  selection. 
Only  I  wish  you  to  subscribe  for  Schleusner,  and  for  the 
new  edition  of  Calmet's  Dictionary  of  the  Bible,  which  is 
publishing  in  Boston,  provided  that  it  is  a  reprint  of  C. 
Taylor's  edition,  published  some  few  years  ago  in  London. 
I  should  like  to  know  how  far  the  work  has  been  carried  on 
already. 

I  was  at  Bizarre  about  the  10th  of  the  month,  when  your 
mother  shov/ed  me  the  last  letter  that  she  had  received  from 
you ;  and  I  read  with  some  degree  of  surprise  your  myste- 
rious request  to  her  respecting  the  place  of  worship  which 


86  MEMOIROF 

you  should  attend.  Are  you  not  at  liberty  to  go  to  what 
church  you  please?  In  respect  to  religion  my  anxieties  are 
greater  than  on  any  other  subject  which  concerns  you.  You 
know,  I  hope,  that  I  am  no  bigot.  I  never  took  one  step  to 
make  you  a  Presbyterian ;  what  I  wish  is  that  you  may  be  a 
christian  indeed.  And  for  this  purpose  I  am  anxious  that 
you  should  attend  that  worship  which  is  conducted  on  pure 
evangelical  principles.  You  ought  to  know  that  the  preach- 
ers of  Christianity  are  now  divided  into  two  great  classes ; 
the  Rational  religionists,  and  the  Evangelical  preachers. 
The  former  of  these  generally  affect  superior  learning,  and 
refinement,  and  taste  :  they  dwell  much  on  the  small  morali- 
ties of  this  world  ;  they  speculate  in  a  very  cool,  philosophi- 
cal manner  on  virtue,  and  the  fitness  of  things,  and  the 
inconveniences  of  vice,  &lc.  &lc.  The  latter  are  no  enemies 
to  true  learning,  to  sound  criticism,  to  refinement  in  taste, 
and  to  all  the  graces  of  literature;  but  they  count  every  thing 
but  loss  in  comparison  with  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge 
of  Christ  Jesus ;  and  have  determined  to  know  nothing  but 
Christ  and  him  crucified.  They,  therefore,  wdth  zeal,  and 
earnestness,  and  fervour,  urge  all  those  topics  that  are  calcu- 
lated to  lead  their  hearers  to  Jesus  Christ  as  the  only  foun- 
dation of  the  sinner's  hope.  Hence  the  earnestness  with 
which  they  insist  on  the  depravity  of  man,  his  helpless 
condition,  the  necessity  of  regeneration,  and  of  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith 
in  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  the  necessity  of  divine  aid  to  enable 
us  to  persevere  in  the  ways  of  holiness.  The  disciples  of 
one  of  these  schools  are  very  cool  in  their  religion,  very 
much  afraid  of  being  righteous  overmuch,  of  all  things  most 
careful  to  avoid  enthusiasm,  full  of  the  cant  of  liberality;  as 
often  at  places  of  amusement  as  at  the  church,  and  full  of 
assurance  that  they  are  a  very  good  sort  of  people — have 
never  done  any  harm  in  their  lives,  and  so  hope  to  go  to 
heaven  at  last.  The  disciples  of  the  other  school  think 
that  lukewarmness  in  the  service  of  him  who  died  for  them 


D  O  C  T  O  R     R  I  C  E.  87 

is  utterly  inexcusable ;  that  there  is  no  fear  of  loving  God 
too  much;  that  the  love  of  Christ  ought  to  constrain  them  to 
live  only  to  the  glory  of  God;  that  every  thing  tending  to 
destroy  or  weaken  the  spirit  of  devotion  ought  to  be  avoided, 
as  men  avoid  contagion;  and,  while  others  boast  of  charity 
and  liberality,  they  practise  ii.  Now  I  would  have  you  to 
be  of  this  school,  and  to  hear  evangelical  preaching :  whether 
the  preachers  belong  to  this  or  that  sect  is  unimportant. 
Mr.  Mead  is  an  evangelical  preacher.  Bishop  Madison  was 
of  the  other  class.  Read  the  Christian  Observer,  and  Cow- 
per's  Poems ;  but  above  every  thing  the  Bible. 

Heaven  bless  you  my  dear  boy. 

J.  H.  Rice. 
'     I  expect  to  set  out  to  Prince  Edward  in  an  hour  or  two. 

On  Saturday,  the  17th  of  October,  of  this  year,  (1812,) 
Mr.  Rice  was  solemnly  installed  pastor  of  the  church  which 
he  had  collected,  in  the  Presbyterian  mode,  which  was  now 
witnessed  in  Richmond  for  the  first  time.  The  ceremony 
was  performed  in  the  new  Brick  Church  near  Rockett?,  and  a 
large  audience  attended.  The  Rev.  Doctor  Moses  Hoge, 
who  had  been  chosen  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery  convened 
for  the  purpose,  presided,  and  the  Rev.  Conrad  Speece 
preached  the  sermon,  from  Ezekiel  xxxiii.  7,  8  and  9.  So 
thoK,  O  son  of  man,  I  have  set  thee  a  watchman  unto  the 
house  of  Israel;  therefore  thou  shalt  hear  the  ivord  at  my 
mouth,  and  ivarn  them  from  me.  When  J  say  unto  the 
wicked  man,  thou  shall  surely  die;  if  thou  dost  not  speak 
to  warn  the  wicked  from  his  way,  that  wicked  man  shall 
die  in  his  iniquity;  but  his  blood  will  I  require  at  thine 
hand.  Nevertheless,  if  thou  warn  the  wicked  of  his  ivay  to 
turn  from  it ;  if  he  do  not  turn  from  his  ivay,  he  shall  die 
in  his  iniquity;  but  thou  hast  delivered  thy  sold — an  excel- 
lent discourse,  which  is  still  remembered  with  interest  by 
some  who  heard  it ;  after  which  the  venerable  Doctor  Hoge 


88  MEMOIROF 

gave  the  charge  to  the  minister  and  the  congregation,  in  his 
most  moving  and  affecting  manner.  The  whole  services  of 
the  occasion,  with  all  the  peculiar  and  interesting  associa- 
tions naturally  connected  with  it,  were  deeply  solemn  and 
impressive. 

TO  MR.  THEODORIC  T.  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  Nov.  16th,  1812. 
My  Dear  Tudor, 

I  thank  you  for  your  last  letter,  and  am  sorry  that  I  am  so 
straitened  for  time  that  I  can  only  send  you  what  this  page 
can  contain,  in  reply. 

I  highly  approve  of  your  plan  of  study,  as  far  as  you 
have  communicated  it  to  me.  Make  yourself  perfect  in  the 
languages.  Read  carefully  every  Latin  and  Greek  classic 
that  you  can ;  especially  revolve  by  day  and  by  night  the 
volumes  of  Sallust,  Livy,  Tacitus,  Virgil,  and  Horace ;  and 
of  Herodotus,  Thucydides,  and  Homer.  Read  also  the  Sep- 
tuagint  and  Josephus.  But  above  all  the  Greek  Testament, 
not  merely  for  the  sake  of  learning  Greek,  but  religion  and 
morality.  Let  me  recommend  to  your  diligent  study  a  very 
small  volume  by  Sharpe  on  the  use  of  the  definite  article  in 
the  Greek  Testament.  I  wish  you  also  carefully  to  read  on 
Sabbath  days,  and  at  other  leisure  times,  Milner's  History 
of  the  Church  of  Christ.  You  cannot  fail  to  obtain  advan- 
tage from  it.  His  opinions,  however,  in  relation  to  the 
external  forms  of  the  Church,  are  to  be  received  with  cau- 
tion. Did  I  recommend  to  you  a  Magazine  published  in 
Boston,  called  the  Christian  Observer?  It  is  the  best  peri- 
odical work  that  I  am  acquainted  with,  and  excepting  an 
undue  attachment  to  Episcopacy,  it  is  one  of  the  most  unex- 
ceptionable works  that  I  ever  knew.  It  breathes  a  spirit  of 
genuine  piety,  of  christian  liberality,  and  candour.  I  shall 
frequently  direct  your  attention  to  such  works  as  I  think 
most  suitable  to  assist  you  in  forming  right  religious  notions, 


DOCTORRICE.  89 

and  calculated  to  inspire  a  spirit  of  vital  piety.  You  will 
attribute  to  friendship  that  anxiety  which  I  feel  in  relation  to 
your  religious  progress.  Above  every  thing,  my  dear  friend, 
seek  to  be  wise  unto  salvation. 

I  wish  that  intercourse  could  be  kept  up  between  this  place 
and  Boston.  I  would  send  you  some  money  for  the  pur- 
chase of  books  for  me,  were  there  any  safe  conveyance  for 
the  books.  Can  you  by  any  means  send  me  Noldius  and 
Pearson?     What  did  they  cost? 

I  am,  with  earnest  prayers  for  the  blessing  of  Heaven 
on  you, 

Your  assured  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond^  Feb.  25th,  1813. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  a  little  flock  here,  but  they  are  greatly  scattered. 
They  expect,  and  they  need  much  attention  from  me.  My 
house  is  crowded  by  company,  and  my  time  very  much 
occupied  in  visiting.  When  the  labours  of  the  day  are  over, 
I  feel  a  great  degree  of  langour,  and  an  almost  invincible  re- 
pugnance to  do  any  thing,  even  what  is  necessary  to  be 
done. 

Since  I  wrote  last,  my  brother  Benjamin  has  pitched  his 
tent  in  Petersburg.  He  lias  very  lately  been  on  a  visit  to  me, 
and  I  learn  that  he  has  considerable  hopes  of  usefulness  in 
that  place.  A  large  unfinished  building  has  been  procured 
as  a  temporary  place  of  meeting,  to  which  the  people  crowd 
in  great  numbers.  A  very  considerable  change  has  taken 
place  in  the  appearance  and  manner,  of  those  who  attend 
divine  worship,  and  some  pretty  deep  religious  impressions 
have  been  made.  The  people  are  raising  a  subscription  to 
build  him  a  church ;  and  upwards  of  five  thousand  dollars 
have  been  subscribed  already.  I  trust  that  the  Lord  has 
9* 


90  MEMOIROF 

sent  him  to  that  place  for  good ;  and  that  he  will  be  an  instru- 
ment of  turning  many  to  righteousness. 

I  have  every  reason  thus  far  to  be  satisfied  with  my  re- 
moval to  this  place.  My  labours  have  been  successful  far 
beyond  my  most  sanguine  hopes.  We  have  about  sixty 
names  now  on  our  register,  and  I  expect  at  the  next  sacra- 
ment a  considerable  increase.  Of  the  piety  of  most  of  our 
members  I  have  a  very  high  opinion.  Some  of  them  I  think 
are  the  most  eminent  christians  that  I  know,  quite  warm  and 
zealous.  A  daughter  of  the  old  judge  Henry,  (Mrs.  M.)  is 
of  this  number.  She  remembers  you,  and  speaks  of  you  in 
terms  highly  gratifying  to  a  friend. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  March  9th,  1813. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Your  last  very  friendly  letter  has  been  unanswered  until 
conscience  is  beginning  to  give  me  some  very  severe  re- 
proaches for  it.  And  yet,  I  can  hardly  see  how  I  could  have 
done  better  than  I  have,  for  my  time  has  been  so  occupied, 
I  have  had  so  much  company,  and  so  many  calls  to  visit  the 
people,  that  I  have  done  nothing  in  the  way  of  study,  and 
have  contracted  heavy  debts  in  the  way  of  correspondence. 

I  am  sure  you  will  not  believe  that  there  is  any  thing  like 
affectation  in  all  this ;  and  yet  you  may  ask  me  what  I  have 
done  since  my  removal  to  this  place  ?  I  answer  little,  very 
little,  compared  with  what  I  wished  or  ought  to  have  done. 
But  yet  I  trust  that  I  am  not  entirely  useless  here.  Several 
who  now  rejoice  in  hope  of  heaven,  were  at  the  time  of  my 
coming  very  thoughtless  of  their  eternal  interests,  and  very 
ignorant  of  the  way  of  salvation.  Religion  is  certainly 
gaining  ground  among  us,  but  the  more  its  influence  extends, 
the  greater  the  opposition  which  will  be  made  to  it.  There 
are  many  here  who,  I  fear,  would  not  believe  though  one 
should  rise  from  the  dead. 


DOCTORRICE.  91 

In  these  times  of  just  alarm,  I  have  very  often  thought 
of  you  in  your  lonely  state,  and  wished  that  you  were 
with  us.  True,  you  are  in  the  hands  of  your  God  and 
your  heavenly  Father.  The  hairs  of  your  head  are  all 
numbered,  and,  according  to  the  divine  promise,  all  things 
shall  work  together  for  your  good.  But  yet,  it  is  very 
common  for  us  to  wish  that  those  we  love  should  be  with 
us,  as  though  we  were  their  most  efficient  protectors  and 
comforters !  Does  this  savour  of  vanity,  or  is  it  the  natural 
consequence  of  zealous  friendship  ?  Be  this  as  it  may,  we 
are  exceedingly  desirous  to  have  you  with  us;  and  we 
have  hoped  that  so  it  would  be,  until  hope  seems  to  be  pre- 
sumptuous. 

But  however  we  may  be  separated,  and  how  seldom 
soever  we  may  have  the  privilege  of  meeting,  yet  we  shall 
never  cease  to  remember  you  with  affection,  and  pray  that 
the  presence  of  God  may  be  enjoyed  by  you,  and  that  the 
best  blessing  of  Heaven  may  be  on  you,  and  on  your 
family.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  often  this  prayer  is  offered 
up  for  you. 

I  am  sorry  to  be  so  hurried.     I  had  much  to  say ;  but  I 
write  in  a  crowd,  and  with  many  interruptions.     I  can  only 
now   add  the   affectionate  greetings  of  Mrs.  Rice  and  the 
girls,  and  the  renewed  assurances  of  the  friendship  of, 
Dear  madam,  yours,  &c. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Richmoiul,  March  30th,  1813. 
My  very  Dear  Friend, 

We  have  heard  of  the  very  serious  loss  which  you  have 
lately  sustained  by  fire.  We  feel  as  friends  should  feel  on 
such  an  occasion.  It  is  no  trifling  inconvenience  to  be 
turned  out  of  house  and  home.  Nor  is  loss  of  property, 
especially  in  times  like  the  present,  a  light  matter.  But 
yet  I   hardly  know  whether  to  condole  with   you,   or  to 


92  MEMOIROF 

congratulate  you.  A  person  who  is  able  to  say,  *'  I 
know  that  if  my  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were 
dissolved,  I  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house  not  made 
with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,"  will  not  be  very 
deeply  affected  by  the  loss  of  a  house  of  wood  or  stone. 
One  who  has  the  "lively  hope  of  an  inheritance  which  is 
incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  never  fadeth  away,  re- 
served in  the  heavens"  for  him,  will  not  grieve  excessively 
for  the  loss  of  a  portion  of  worldly  property.  I  think  that 
I  can  enter  into  your  feelings'.  1  have  no  doubt  but  that  in 
all  this  trial  you  have  strong  consolation.  You  are  ready 
to  say:  "The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away, 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  I  have  seen  so  many 
instances  of  the  efficacy  of  vital  religion,  God  is  so  gra- 
cious to  his  children,  and  the  promises  that  we  have  are 
so  exceedingly  great  and  precious,  that  I  feel  the  utmost 
confidence  that  you  will  be  enabled  to  bear,  with  patient 
and  cheerful  submission,  any  thing  that  your  heavenly 
Father  may  think  proper  to  send.  Surely,  it  is  a  very 
great  comfort  to  know  that  our  times  of  sorrow  and  of  joy 
are  in  the  hands  of  God,  and  that  nothing  can  befal  us 
without  the  permission  of  Him,  who  "  so  loved  this  world 
as  to  give  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth 
on  him  might  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life."  May 
that  God  who  has  promised  never  to  forsake  his  children, 
promised  to  be  a  father  to  the  orphan,  and  a  husband  to  the 
widow,  ever  be  with  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  give  you 
that  consolation  and  support  which  he  is  wont  to  give  to 
those  who  love  him ;  and  may  all  things  work  together  for 
your  good ! 

We  are  all  anxious  to  hear  the  particulars  of  this  affair. 
How  great  is  your  loss?  Is  Tudor's  library  lost?  Write 
soon  and  let  us  know. 

We  are  still  more  anxious  to  know  whether  as  friends  it 
is  in  our  power  to  do  any  thing  to  serve  you.     The  first 


DOCTOR     RICE. 


93 


impulse  which  I  felt  when  T  heard  of  your  loss,  was  to 
mount  my  horse,  and  go  immediately  to  Farmville ;  and  I 
should  have  done  so  had  I  not  recollected  that  professional 
engagements  prevented.  The  proposal  which  we  have 
now  to  make  is,  that  you  come  and  stay  with  us,  until  you 
can  make  some  permanent  arrangements.  We  always  keep 
a  room  and  a  bed  for  a  friend.  As  long  as  we  have  a  house 
it  shall  aways  be  open  to  you,  and  as  long  as  we  have 
hearts  they  will  always  rejoice  to  receive  you.  Kegard  me 
as  a  FRIEND — as  a  brother.  You  could  do  me  no  higher 
favour  than  to  permit  me  at  this  time,  as  far  as  it  is  in 
my  power,  to  minister  to  your  comfort.  Nancy  has  pre- 
cisely the  same  feelings  that  I  have.  Let  me  then  take 
my  horse  and  gig  to  Farmville.     Come  down  to  us,  and 

sojourn  with  us  for  a  time.     Mrs.  M K joins 

with  us  in  this  request.  We  all  unite  in  this,  that  you 
must  not  say  nay.  I  shall  then  expect  to  hear  by  the  next 
post  what  time  it  will  suit  you  for  me  to  go  up  for  you. 
Only  be  so  good  as  to  remember  that  I  must  have  a  week's 
notice,  that  I  may  arrange  my  appointments  beforehand. 

Please  to  mention  us  in  the  most  affectionate  manner  to 

Mrs.  H ,  and  present  our  best  regards  to  St.  George 

and  Miss  Sally. 

I  write  in  very  great  haste  to  be  in  time  for  the  mail. 
May  the  God  of  love  be  your  guide,  your  friend,  your 
portion. 

Assuredly,  your  most  affectionate  friend, 

Jno.  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  THEODORIC  T.  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  May  IQth,  1813. 

My  Dear  Friend, 

Just  as  your  last  letter  came  to  hand,  I  was  setting  out  to 
Prince  Edward  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  your  mother  to 
Richmond ;  and  since  my  return,  I  have  had  to  go  to  Peters- 


94  MEMOIROF 

burgh,  and  have  been  otherwise  so  much  occupied  that  I 
could  not  write  with  any  sort  of  convenience  before  this  time. 
The  burning  at  Bizarre  was  a  very  serious  affair.  I  know 
not  how  your  mother  will  repair  her  losses.  There  is  how- 
ever this  consolation,  there  is  an  inheritance  beyond  the 
reach  of  time  and  chance,  reserved  in  heaven  for  true  believ- 
ers, and  in  this  inheritance  I  believe  she  has  a  portion.  The 
loss  of  earthly  goods,  then,  is  trifling  to  her.  The  burning  of 
a  house  of  wood  is  a  small  matter  to  one  that  can  say,  "  I 
know  that  if  the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dis- 
solved, I  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens."  Your  most  excellent  mother 
finds  that  support  which  truths  like  this  can  afford.  It  will 
delight  you  to  hear  that  she  bears  her  loss,  as  every  body  re- 
marks, like  a  christian. 

There  is  one  thing  very  common  among  young  men  who 
receive  their  education  abroad,  against  which  I  shall  take  the 
liberty  to  guard  you.  They  fall  into  the  habit  of  thinking 
ever]^  thing  foreign  excellent,  every  thing  native  odious  and 
detestable.  I  have  seen  many  young  Virginians,  who  had 
finished  their  education  at  Princeton,  Yale,  &;c.  who  upon 
their  return  appeared  to  have  conceived  an  incurable  disgust 
against  all  that  was  Virginian ;  and  nothing  could  be  heard 
from  them  but  censures  of  the  laws,  the  politics,  the  manners 
and  customs,  of  Virginia.  Now  all  this  I  take  to  be  ridicu- 
lous, and  I  had  almost  said  vicious.  It  is  true  a  blind  par- 
tiality is  a  great  weakness.  But  still  the  heart,  as  I  think, 
must  be  hardened  and  corrupted  that  can  exterminate  those 
feelings  which  are  awakened  when  we  say,  "  This  is  our 
own,  our  native  land,"  the  land  of  our  fathers.  True, 
Virginia  has  faults.  They  are  many  and  great.  But,  as  my 
favourite  poet  has  it. 


-"  With  all  thy  faults  I  love  thee  still, 


My  country  !" 
Let  men  declaim  as  they  may,  there  is  in  the  people  of  our 


DOCTOR     RICE.  95 

native  state  an  openheartedness,  a  generosity,  and  a  cordiality, 
which  can  be  found  no  where  else.  I  love  Virginia.  It  is 
gladsome  to  my  heart  to  breathe  the  very  air,  and  tread  the 
soil  that  my  fathers  breathed  and  trod.  But  I  need  not 
dwell  on  this  topic.  Perhaps  the  caution  is  entirely  needless. 
It  can  however  do  no  harm,  if  it  does  no  good. 

I  wish  you  success  in  your  scheme  of  pushing  on  through 
the  college  course.     I  wish  that  I  could  give  you  aid  in  it. 

Pearson  and  Noldius  came  to  hand  last  night.  They  have 
been  long  on  the  road. 

I  should  like  to  have  that  copy  of  the  Septuagint  which 
you  speak  of,  could  you  find  a  safe  conveyance  for  it ;  until 
when,  keep  it  for  me. 

Mrs.  Rice  unites  in  sincere  love  to  you. 

Your  unaltered  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  July  SOth,  1813. 
]My  Dear  Friend, 

I  do  not  know  that  any  thing  that  I  have  lately  heard  in 
the  way  of  news,  could  in  the  smallest  degree  interest  you. 
Nothing  good  is  to  be  hoped  for,  and  why  should  I  detail 
the  consequences  of  folly  and  prejudice  ? 

The  affairs  of  the  church  are  those  only  to  which  my  mind 
turns  with  any  degree  of  consolation ;  and  here  I  find  com- 
fort almost  entirely  from  the  promise  of  God  to  his  people. 
While  iniquity  abounds,  and  many  have  the  form  of  godliness 
yet  deny  the  power ;  while  a  keen  relish  for  amusements,  a 
love  for  gaiety  and  triflles  prevails,  and  only  here  and  there 
an  individual  is  to  be  found  who  seems  desirous  to  walk 
w^orthy  of  the  gospel,  the  friends  of  Zion  must  be  discour- 
aged. But  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth.  This  is 
my  comfort.  This  sovereign  too  is  the  Lord  Jesus,  the 
head  of  the  Church.     There  is  reason  for  hope  and  rejoic- 


96  M  E  M  O  I  R     O  F 

ing.    Have  you  not  committed  your  all  to  his  hands  ?    Then, 
my  dear  friend,  you  are  safe. 

The  feeblest  saint  shall  win  the  day, 
Tho'  death  and  hell  obstruct  the  way. 

Thanks  be  to  God  for  this  hope,  both  on  my  behalf  and  that 
of  my  friends.     May  God  bless  them  all ! 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  Nov,  Ath,  1813. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  just  returned  to  Richmond  from  Lexington  where 
our  Synod  held  its  meeting  this  fall. 

We  had  a  very  comfortable  time  of  it.  Ministers,  I  think, 
were  stirred  up  considerably.  Some  good  tidings  were  told 
us  by  several  of  the  brethren.  Our  Missionaries  have  been 
very  useful  this  summer,  particularly  Samuel  D.  Hoge.  He 
has  preached  a  good  deal  in  Fauquier,  Culpepper,  Madison, 
&c.,  and  his  sermons  have  had  a  very  spirit-stirring  effect. 
Messrs.  Calhoun,  Logan,  and  B.  H.  Rice  administered  the 
sacrament  of  the  supper  on  last  Sabbath,  at  Walker's  church 

in  Albemarle.     N G (who  lives  in  Richmond)  was 

present,  and  describes  the  scene  there  as  surpassing  every 
thing  that  he  ever  witnessed.  God  seems  to  have  begun  a 
good  work  in  that  region.  Davis  Hoge  will  probably  settle 
in  Culpepper,  and  James  Wilson  (who  was  obliged  to  leave 
Norfolk  on  account  of  sickness,)  thinks  of  settling  in  Mr. 
Waddel's  neighbourhood.  He  left  this  yesterday  on  his 
way  to  that  place.  In  this  city  and  Petersburg,  religion  I 
think  gains  ground.  A  new  congregation  is  organizing  un- 
der the  care  of  Jesse  Turner,  at  a  place  called  Hanovertown, 
about  twenty  miles  distant.  Appearances  are  quite  encou- 
raging there.  May  we  hope  that  God  will  build  Jerusalem 
in  these  troublous  times  ?  I  have  good  hopes  that  our  Bible 
Society  will  prosper,  and   do  much  good.     I  send  you  a 


DOCTORRICE.  97 

copy  of  our  address  and  constitution.  I  am  ashamed  of  the 
printing,  and  I  fear  that  the  address  will  not  do  much  credit 
to  so  good  a  cause.     Your  friend  wrote  it. 

I  could  not  help  exclaiming  when  I  heard  of  the  fine 
library  you  had  purchased,  "  O  fortunatiim  T  but  I  could 
hardly  add,  "  eqiddem  hand  invideo.''^  But  why  should  I 
repine  ?  I  have  more  books  than  I  can  read.  By  the  way, 
would  you  prefer  the  Philadelphia  or  New  York  edition  of 
the  Hebrew  Bible  ?" 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL.  ESQ. 

Richmond,  Jan^y  Sth,  1814. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Mr.  Paxton  is  the  bearer  of  this  hasty  note.  He  is  a 
young  man  without  that  exterior  polish  which  modern  fas- 
tidiousness requires,  but  of  truly  solid  and  estimable  quali- 
ties. His  understanding  is  good,  his  piety  unquestionable, 
and  his  desire  to  be  useful  such  as  you  could  wish  to  find  in 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel.  He  will  grow  in  your  esteem  on 
acquaintance,  so  that  you  will  say  the  half  was  not  told  you. 

My  brother  and  I  would  have  visited  you  before  this,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  influenza.  This  has  left  me  in  such  a 
state  about  the  lungs,  that  it  will  be  wise  in  me  to  avoid  ex- 
posure to  winter  weather.  As  soon  as  we  have  any  assur- 
ance of  mildness  in  the  air,  we  will  march  down  in  a  body, 
accompanied  by  Mrs.  Rice,  and  make  such  an  assault  upon 
Norfolk  as  you  have  not  had  since  the  war. 

Have  you  done  any  thing  for  the  Bible  Society  in  Nor- 
folk ?  An  auxiliary  Society  has  recently  been  established  in 
Frederick  under  the  most  flattering  appearances  of  success. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  March  2d,  1814. 
*'  I  have  been  in  rather  infirm  health  during  the  winter, 
and  have  had  a  great  deal  to  do  under  the  immediate  stimulus 

10 


98  MEMOIROF 

of  duty,  I  have  performed  professional  services,  and  as 
often  as  I  have  been  thus  engaged,  I  have  relapsed  into  a 
stale  of  languor  from  which  hardly  any  thing  but  the  most 
imperious  call  could  arouse  me." 

In  the  following  spring,  about  the  beginning  of  April,  Mr. 
Rice,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Rice,  and  his  brother,  the  Rev. 
Benjamin  H.  Rice,  then  pastor  of  the  church  in  Petersburg, 
(whom  he  had  called  for  on  his  way,)  paid  his  promised 
visit  to  the  church  in  Norfolk,  and  preached  to  the  people 
there,  for  several  days,  with  most  happy  effect.  This  church, 
indeed,  had  now  been  vacant  for  some  time,  (though  it  had 
lately  been  enjoying  the  services  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Paxton, 
who  had  been  sent  to  supply  it,  as  we  have  seen,  some  two 
or  three  months  before,  and  had  been  doing  his  duty  in  it  with 
great  diligence,)  and  it  was,  therefore,  ready  to  receive  the 
Word  with  joy.  The  pressure  of  the  war,  too,  upon  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  had  predisposed  the  minds  of  many 
of  them  to  hear  the  gospel  with  new  attention.  In  this 
state  of  things,  Mr.  Rice  began  to  preach  in  the  Presbyte- 
rian church,  in  the  forenoon  of  the  second  Sabbath  in  the 
month,  from  Mai.  iii.  18,  Then  shall  ye  return  and  discern 
between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked,  &c.  and  was  heard 
with  uncommon  interest  by  all  present.  He  preached  also 
in  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day,  in  the  same  place,  from 
Luke  xii.  16,  (the  parable  of  the  rich  man,)  and  exhorted 
at  night  at  Mrs.  M'Pherson's,  (a  venerable  old  lady  in 
whose  house  the  prayer  meetings  of  the  church  were  then 
held,)  and  on  both  occasions  with  visible  effect.  The  inte- 
rest, indeed,  which  the  preaching  of  both  the  brothers  had 
by  this  time  awakened,  not  only  in  the  congregation,  but  in 
the  whole  town,  was  now  manifest;  and  it  seemed  ditficult 
to  satisfy  the  thirst  for  hearing  which  began  to  prevail.  Mr. 
Rice  had,  therefore,  to  preach  as  often  as  his  strength  would 
permit ;  especially  as  his  brother  unfortunately  soon  became 
indisposed,  and  was   consequently   unable    to  aid   him  as 


DOCTORRICE.  99 

actively  as  he  otherwise  would  have  done.  Accordingly,  he 
preached  again,  on  Wednesday  morning,  in  the  church, 
from  Romans  iii.  10,  There  is  none  righteous^  no,  not 
one;  and  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  in  the  Methodist 
meeting  house,  from  Heb.  ii.  3,  How  shall  we  escape  if  we 
7ieglect  so  great  salvation,  &c.  On  Thursday  night  he 
preached  at  Mrs,  M'Pherson's,  from  Rev.  iii.  20,  Behold 
I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock,  &c.  and  the  day  after  in  the 
church,  from  Rom.  iii.  28,  Therefore  we  conclude  that  a 
man  is  justified  by  faith  without  the  deeds  of  the  laiv — an 
excellent  and  most  effective  discourse.  The  subject  of  it, 
by  the  way,  had  been  chosen  with  special  reference  to  a 
written  question  which  had  been  addressed  to  him  by  a  gen- 
tleman who  had  been  awakened  under  some  of  his  previous 
sermons,  to  inquire  more  particularly  what  he  should  do  to 
be  saved.  What  effect  the  answer  had  on  him  is  not  known ; 
(though  it  is  believed  that  it  excited  no  small  emotion,)  but 
it  was  certainly  blest  to  many  others  in  the  house. 

On  the  Saturday  following,  he  preached  in  the  Episcopal 
church,  from  Psalm,  xix.  10,  More  to  be  desired  are  they 
than  gold,  &:c.;  and  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  in  the 
Baptist  meeting  house,  from  Matt.  xxv.  last — And  these  shall 
go  axoay  into  everlasting  jnmishment,  &c.  The  next  day, 
being  the  third  Sabbath  in  the  month,  he  preached  in  the 
Presbyterian  church  (in  the  afternoon,)  from  Joshua  xxiv. 
15,  As  for  me  and  my  house  we  will  serve  the  Lord, — a 
discourse  on  the  importance  and  excellence  of  family  reli- 
gion, wliich  was  full  of  the  best  and  finest  feeling,  and  made 
a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on  many  minds.  In  the  eve- 
ning of  the  same  day,  he  exhorted  at  Mrs.  M'Pherson's  for 
the  last  time,  when  he  bade  farewell  to  the  brethren,  and 
others  assembled,  with  great  pathos, — movingmany  of  them 
to  tears,— and  the  next  day  (or  day  after)  left  town  for  Rich- 
mond, followed  by  the  prayers  and  good  wishes  of  all  who 
had  heard  him. 

On  his  return  home,  we  find  him  thus  briefly  noticing  his 


100  MEMOIR      OF 

late  visit  to  Norfolk,  in  a  letter  to  his  friend  Mrs.  Randolph, 
bearing  date  the  25th  of  April,  1814. 

*'  Nancy  and  I  have  just  returned  from  Norfolk.  It  was 
one  of  the  pleasantest  tours  that  I  ever  made.  Religion 
seems  to  many  in  that  place  the  great  concern.  I  never  saw 
people  hear  with  such  deep  attention,  and  such  appearances 
of  general  feeling.  May  God  visit  the  whole  world  in  his 
mercy,  and  cause  religion  to  prevail  where  wars  now  carry 
desolation  and  misery."  So  modestly  could  he  write  of  the 
great  work  (truly  such,)  which  God  had  wrought  by  his  hands. 

In  the  mean  time,  whilst  Mr.  Rice  was  thus  actively  and 
zealously  engaged  in  preaching  the  gospel  both  at  home 
and  abroad,  and  with  increasing  success,  his  situation,  in  a 
mere  worldly  point  of  view,  was  very  far  from  being  alto- 
gether agreeable ;  and  the  following  extract  of  a  letter  to 
his  friend  Dr.  Alexander,  (of  a  later  date,  but  referring 
more  particularly  to  the  state  of  things  at  this  time,)  may 
serve  to  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  many  difficulties 
which  he  had  to  encounter  in  the  prosecution  of  his  work. 

"  From  the  time  of  my  coming  here,"  says  he,  "  I 
experienced  opposition  from  various  sources;  but  chiefly 
from  a  certain  class  of  Presbyterians.  One  of  the  principal 
disadvantages,  however,  under  which  I  laboured  arose  from 
the  situation  of  the  place  of  worship,  which  was  near  the 
lower  extremity  of  the  town,  and  out  of  the  way  of  almost 
every  one.  Finding  that  this  would  be  utterly  ruinous  to 
the  whole  business,  I  recommended  that  the  church  and  lot 
should  be  sold,  and  that  a  house  should  be  erected  in  a 
more  central  place.  After  much  opposition  to  this  mea- 
sure, it  was  ascertained  that  the  house  begun  could  not  be 
finished,  and  that,  if  it  could,  a  salary  sufficient  for  my  sup- 
port could  not  be  raised.  The  measure  proposed  by  me 
was  then  adopted;  the  house  was  sold;  but  owing  to  the 
effects  of  t'.e  war,  the  purchaser  could  not  pay  for  it,  and, 
in  consequence,  relinquished  the  title.  I  need  not  detail  all 
the   difficulties    and   discouragements  which  ensued.     All 


DOCTOR     RICE.  101 

this  time  my  salary  was  veiy  precarious,  and  not  very 
seldom  I  was  reduced  to  my  last  sixpence,  and  in  fact  had 
not  money  to  go  to  market.  In  the  time  of  necessity, 
however.  Providence  always  provided  for  the  supply  of 
my  immediate  wants.  Many  times  1  thought  very  seri- 
ously of  seeking  another  place  of  abode ;  but  was  put  from 
these  thoughts  by  some  unexpected  provision  being  made 
for  me.  Besides,  I  was  convinced  that,  humanly  speaking, 
the  success  of  the  Presbyterian  cause  depended  upon  my 
staying  here.  Its  main  supporters  were  my  warm  personal 
friends,  and  they  declared  that  if  I  should  leave  them,  they 
should  give  over;  and  I  was  too  much  of  a  Presbyterian  to 
think  of  retiring  from  the  conflict.  *  Don't  give  up  the 
ship,'  was  my  motto.  Besides,  and  what  is  more  than  all, 
the  Head  of  the  Church  had  been  pleased,  in  some  degree, 
to  bless  my  labours  here."* 

In  this  state  of  things,  an  event  happened  which  threat- 
ened, at  the  moment,  even  to  increase  his  difficulties; 
though  it  had,  perhaps,  in  the  end,  exactly  the  opposite 
effect.  This  was  the  opening  of  the  new  Episcopal  Church 
in  Richmond,  under  circumstances  which  were  calculated  to 
give  it  no  small  eclat.  For,  it  seems  that  shordy  after 
the  burning  of  the  theatre,  the  subscribers  to  the  monument 
that  was  to  be  erected  on  its  site,  had  enlarged  their  ori- 
ginal idea,  and,  by  a  happy  fancy,  determined  to  build  a 
church  upon  the  spot,  which  should  embrace  a  monu- 
ment in  its  plan ;  and  they  had  proceeded  accordingly  to 
raise  a  sightly  and  commodious  house  of  worship,  for  which 
they  were  now  wishing  to  obtain  a  rector.  At  first,  indeed, 
and  for  some  time  afterwards,  they  had  not  decided  to  what 
denomination  the  new  building  should  belong;  and  as  the 
sufferers  by  the  accident  which  had  caused  its  erection  were 

*  He  adds,  in  another  part  of  his  letter:  '^  The  most  active  and 
indefatigable  man  in  the  congregation  has  been  my  friend  Mr.  Park- 
hill." 

*10 


102  MEMOIR      OF 

chiefly  from  among  the  Presbyterians  and  Episcopalians 
who  had  formerly  worshipped  together  in  the  capitol,  where 
they  had  enjoyed  the  alternate  services  of  Messrs.  Blair  and 
Buchanan,  many  of  the  subscribers  desired  that  both  of  these 
gentlemen  should  still  continue  to  officiate  together  in  the 
same  manner,  in  the  new  church.  Others,  however,  were 
rather  disposed  to  have  the  edifice  consecrated  as  an  Epis- 
copal church,  and  Mr.  Blair  himself,  we  are  told,  very  gener- 
ously favoured  their  views.  Accordingly,  very  shortly  be- 
fore the  pews  were  to  be  sold,  that  is,  on  the  7th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1814,  the  subscribers  determined  by  a  vote  that  the  new 
building,  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  Monumental 
Church,  should  be  altogether  under  the  control  of  the  Epis- 
copalians, 

In  the  meantime,  some  zealous  clergymen  and  laymen  of 
the  Episcopal  church,  particularly  the  Rev.  Wm.  Meade, 
(now  assistant  bishop  of  the  diocess  of  Virginia,)  and  the 
Kev.  Messrs.  H.  Wilnier,  and  Oliver  Norris,  rectors  of 
churches  in  Alexandria,  with  the  late  judge  Bushrod  Wash- 
ington, and  Edmund  I.  Lee,  Esq.,  were  making  the  most 
strenuous  and  laudable  exertions  to  raise  the  character  of  the 
whole  Episcopal  church  in  the  state,  by  the  election  of  a 
proper  bishop  for  the  diocess  which  was  now  vacant.  The 
state  of  that  branch  of  the  church,  indeed,  at  this  time,  was 
such  as  to  require  all  their  eflx)rts,  and  all  their  prayers  to 
revive  it.  For,  deprived  by  the  acts  of  Assembly  passed  dur- 
ing the  revolution,  and  subsequently,  of  the  patronage  of  the 
state,  and  destitute,  in  too  many  instances,  of  that  personal 
piety,  or  at  least  of  that  lively  zeal,  which  might  have  given 
them  favour  in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  its  clergy  had  been  con- 
stantly decreasing  in  number,  till  on  the  death  of  the  late 
Bishop  Madison,  which  took  place  in  1812,  there  were  hardly 
more  than  forty  of  them  in  all  the  state.  Among  these,  how- 
ever, were  the  zealous  ministers  whom  we  have  mentioned, 
who  together  with  the  active  laymen  already  named,  and 
some  others,  were  now  determined  to  obtain  the  election  of 


DOCTOR     RICE.  103 

a  new  bishop,  whose  piety  and  talents,  by  the  blessing  of 
God,  might  awaken  and  animate  the  whole  church.  Accord- 
ingly, they  turned  their  eyes  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Moore,  the 
zealous  and  active  rector  of  St.  Stephen's,  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  whose  pious  labours  among  the  people  of  his  charge 
had  been  crowned  with  great  success,  and  whose  peculiar 
qualifications,  it  was  hoped,  would  be  still  more  usefully 
exerted  in  a  larger  sphere.  There  was,  however,  a  diffi- 
culty in  the  way  of  their  application  to  him  which  it  was  for 
some  time  hard  to  remove.  This  was  the  fact  that  they 
could  offer  him  no  salary  for  his  services  ;  for  there  was 
none,  it  seems,  attached  to  the  office ;  and  it  was  certainly 
hardly  reasonable  to  expect  that  any  one  would  accept  the 
honour  without  some  provision  for  his  support.  At  length, 
however,  an  arrangement  was  happily  made  between  the  com- 
mittee of  correspondence  of  the  Convention,  and  the  holders 
of  the  Monumental  Church,  by  which  it  was  settled  that  the 
invited  bishop  of  the  diocess  should  also  be  the  rector  of  the 
church,  and  enjoy  the  salary  attached  to  the  latter  office. 
Accordingly,  on  the  5th  of  February,  1814,  Dr.  Moore  was 
elected  both  bishop  and  rector  ;  and  having  been  duly  conse- 
crated in  St.  James's  Church  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  18th  of 
May  following,  he  came  shortly  afterwards  to  Richmond,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  new  charge  without  delay.* 

Mr.  Rice  was  among  the  first  to  welcome  his  arrival;  and 
sincerely  esteeming  him  for  his  piety,  and  hoping  to  find 
him  a  cordial  fellow-labourer  in  the  field  of  their  common 
Master,  was  ready,  on  all  occasions,  to  cultivate  his  friend- 
ship by  the  most  kind  and  courteous  attentions.  Bishop 
Moore,  too,  on  his  part,  appeared  to  be  actuated  by  the  same 
spirit,  and  the  friends  of  piety  who  were  attached  to  both 
rejoiced  to  see  the  happy  union  between  them. 

*  In  this  account  of  the  establishment  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Richmond,  I  have  followed  a  statement  very  kindly  communicated 
to  me  by  the  Rev.  William  F.Lee,  some  time  Rector  of  Christ  Church, 
in  that  city,  and  now  editor  of  the  Southern  Churchman. 


104  MEMOIR     OF 

The  opening  of  this  new  church,  however,  as  I  have  hint- 
ed, rather  operated  at  the  moment  against  his  own  endeavours 
to  establish  another.  For  some  of  his  Episcopalian  friends 
who  had  hitherto  made  a  part  of  his  congregation,  and  were 
in  fact  hardly  distinguishable  from  the  members  of  his  flock 
though  they  had  not  formally  joined  it,  now  obeyed  the  call 
of  their  bishop,  and  returned  to  the  altar  which  they  had  left, 
(in  ashes  indeed,  but  which  was  now  to  be  built  anew,)  and 
what  was  yet  more  trying  to  him,  some  of  his  own  de- 
nomination, (some  Scotch  Presbyterians,)  whom  he  had 
naturally  expected  to  aid  him  in  his  undertaking,  despairing 
of  his  success,  forsook  him;  and,  following  the  stream  of 
fashion,  took  pews  in  the  Monumental  Church.  Still,  to 
use  his  own  expression,  "  he  did  not  give  up  the  ship ;"  but 
committing  himself  to  the  great  Master  whom  he  served,  and 
supported  by  his  now  more  zealous  friends,  "steered  right 
on,"  and,  as  we  shall  see,  soon  reached  his  port. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Sq)t.  16th,  1814. 
"My  case  is  this.  Bishop  Moore  is  gone  to  New  York, 
and  does  not  expect  to  return  until  the  last  day  of  October. 
Mr.  Buchanan  is  in  ill-health,  and  does  not  preach.  Mr. 
Blair  and  Mr.  Bryce  have  accepted  a  chaplaincy  in  the  army, 
so  that  Richmond  is  almost  deprived  of  preachers.  This  is 
a  season  of  sickness,  alarm,  and  general  distress.  The  eyes 
of  multitudes  are  turned  towards  me;  they  say  "you  must 
not  leave  us."  And  indeed  there  seems  to  be  a  greater  op- 
portunity of  doing  good  than  has  ever  been  presented  to  me 
before ;  especially  as  at  the  present  time  many  are  almost 
compelled  from  the  circumstances  in  which  they  are,  to  look 
for  comfort  in  religion.  That  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of 
being  useful,  the  Vestry  have  opened  the  Monumental 
Church  for  my  use  until  the  return  of  Dr.  Moore. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  105 

TO  MR.  THEODORIC  T.  RANDOLPH.^ 

Richmond,  October  I9th,  1814. 

My  Dear  Tudok, 

I  have  heard  of  your  indisposition  with  that  solicitude 
which  my  friendship  for  you  may  well  be  supposed  to  ex- 
cite. The  various  causes  of  this  solicitude  need  not  be 
specified.  The  most  important  of  them  has  reference  to  reli- 
gion. My  views  and  sentiments  on  this  most  important  sub- 
ject are  well  known  to  you.  I  have  not  had  it  in  my  power 
to  ascertain  how  you  have  felt  and  thought  since  you  have 
left  us ;  but  I  trust  that  you  have  not  lost  any  of  those  im- 
pressions which,  if  I  mistake  not,  were  formerly  made 
upon  your  mind;  and  it  is  my  most  anxious  wish  that  you 
may,  in  your  lingering  illness,  enjoy  those  consolations 
which  religion  alone  affords.  It  is  true  that  literature  and 
philosophy  have  their  charms,  and  furnish  pleasures  to 
their  votaries  that  far  surpass  the  joys  of  sense.  But 
when  the  heavy  hand  of  affliction  presses  upon  us,  we 
need  something  better  than  Seneca  or  Epictetus  can  give 
us.  And  what  the  heart  craves  the  gospel  most  liberally 
affords.  It  gives  us  assurance  of  the  pardoning  mercy, 
and  watchful  providence  of  God ;  and  gives  us  every  reason 
to  hope  for  the  renovatmg  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Now  the  provision  thus  made  for  us  will  appear,  upon 
examination,  wonderfully  adapted  to  the  condition  in  which 
we  are  all  in  fact  placed.  And  this  adaptation  is  one  of 
the  best  evidences  of  the  truth  of  Christianity.  Indeed, 
without  this,  no  proof  could  establish  the  certainty  of  this 
system  of  religion.  But  it  is  far  from  my  intention  to 
enter  on  any  discussion  of  the  evidences  of  divine  revela- 
tion.    Nor  can  I  for  a  moment  suppose,  that  any  thing  of 

*  Who  had  left  Cambridge  in  consequence  of  his  declining  health, 
and  was  now  staying  at  Morrisania,  the  seat  of  tlie  late  Governeur 
Morris,  who  had  married  his  aunt. 


106  MEMOIR     OF 

tliis  nature  is  necessary  for  you.  Admitting  then  the 
gospel  to  be  true,  I  would  remind  you  that  the  sinfulness 
of  man  lies  at  the  foundation  of  this  scheme  of  religion. 
In  the  very  commencement,  the  depravity  of  the  human 
heart  is  assumed  as  a  fact  of  which  there  can  be  no 
reasonable  doubt.  And  indeed,  how  can  we  account  for 
the  phenomena  which  are  exhibited  in  the  conduct  of  man, 
and  in  the  dispensations  of  Divine  Providence,  unless  we 
adopt  this  principle?  If  we  reject  it,  it  seems  to  me  that 
we  must  adopt  at  least  these  two  absurd  consequences; 
that  the  common  course  of  human  conduct  furnishes  no 
true  indication  of  the  disposition  of  the  human  heart,  and 
that  the  God  of  justice  and  of  love  permits  holy  beings  to 
be  sorely  tried  and  deeply  afflicted;  that  is,  permits  his 
creatures  to  suffer  without  their  having  done  any  thing  to 
deserve  it.  It  has  very  frequently  been  observed,  that  per- 
sons who  have  never  been  grossly  immoral,  in  fact,  speak- 
ing in  usual  style,  persons  of  the  strictest  virtue,  have 
suffered  very  grievously.  Estimating  things  by  human 
standards,  does  not  this  seem  very  unaccountable  ?  But 
considering  that  the  law  of  God  requires  supreme  love  to 
him,  and  considers  every  action  as  sinful  which  does  not 
proceed  from  this  source,  the  difficulty  vanishes.  And 
this  important  conc-lusion  follows,  that  we  are  all  considered 
as  sinners  in  the  sight  of  God.  And  if  both  reason  and 
scripture  teach  us  that  all,  even  the  best,  are  regarded  as 
sinful,  we  may  well  inquire,  "  What  must  we  do  to  be 
saved?"  Now,  in  answer  to  this  question  I  would  observe, 
that  according  to  the  best  examination  which  I  have  been 
able  to  make  of  this  very  important  subject,  I  am  entirely 
convinced  that  we  have  no  well  founded  hope  that  God 
will  forgive  sin,  except  through  the  Atonement  m,ade  by 
Jesus  Christ.  My  only  hope  rests  upon  this  doctrine.  If 
it  prove  false,  I  know  not  what  is  to  become  of  me,  and  of 
those  I  love.  But,  admitting  that  Jesus  Christ  *'  has  been 
set  forth  as  a  propitiation  for  our  sins,  to  declare  the  righte- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  107 

ousness  of  God  in  the  remission  of  sin;"  I  can  see  a  sure 
foundation  on  which  to  build  my  hope  for  eternity,  because 
I  can  see  how  God  can  he  just,  and  justify  him  that  be- 
lieveth  in  Christ  Jesus."  And  really,  unless  this  discovery 
is  made,  I  am  utterly  at  a  loss  to  understand  how  any  one 
who  sees  the  evil  of  sin,  and  has  any  correct  views  of  the 
divine  government,  as  it  is  revealed  in  the  scriptures,  can 
have  undisturbed  peace,  and  well  founded  hope. 

I  do  therefore,  as  a  friend  most  anxious  for  your  comfort 
and  happiness,  affectionately  urge  you  to  embrace  with  all 
your  heart  the  hope  set  before  you  in  the  cross  of  Jesus 
Christ.  It  may  be  that  you  have  done  so.  If  this  be  the 
case,  you  will  not  think  these  exhortations  ill  timed ;  and  if 
not,  the  sooner  you  decidedly  and  with  your  whole  heart 
take  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Saviour,  the  better.  He  com- 
mends himself  to  us  in  various  ways  well  calculated  to  exalt 
him  in  our  estimation.  In  the  support  and  comfort  which 
my  most  valued  friend,  your  mother,  has  received  under 
trials  of  the  most  grievous  kind,  I  find  great  reason  to  prize 
the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  that  Saviour  who  is  the 
author  and  finisher  of  her  faith.  She  knew  that  she  had  a 
merciful  and  gracious  High  Priest,  who  had  been  tempted 
in  all  points  as  she  was,  and  who  knew  how  to  succour  her 
in  her  trials ;  she  was  therefore  encouraged  with  boldness 
to  approach  the  throne  of  grace.  She  can,  and  she  will  tes- 
tify to  you  the  worth  and  excellency  of  her  Saviour,  and  in 
terras  which  I  trust  the  Holy  Spirit  will  convey  to  your 
heart,  will  tell  you  from  her  own  experience,  how  precious 
and  how  consoling  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Atonement.  That 
you  may  feel  its  influences,  and  rejoice  in  the  comforts  wliich 
it  affords,  is  my  most  earnest  and  constant  prayer. 

If  Providence  should  spare  us,  I  trust  that  I  shall  see  you 
in  the  spring  of  the  year.  I  cannot  help  again  repeating 
how  anxiously  I  desire  to  have  this  pleasure.  I  shall  not, 
then,  cease  to  pray  the  most  merciful  God  to  restore  you  to 
health,  to  prolong  your  life,  and  to  allow  me  the  happiness 


108  MEMOIR      OF 

not  merely  of  seeing  you,  but  of  seeing  you  with  renovated 
health,  pursuing  vigorously  that  course  which  will  lead  you 
to  usefulness  and  honour  in  this  world,  and  to  life  everlasting 
in  the  next. 

Mrs.  Rice  unites  with  me  in  every  sentiment  of  affection 
for  you,  in  every  good  wish,  and  in  every  prayer  for  your 
health  and  hapiness ;  and  we  both  join  in  committing  you, 
with  all  that  we  love,  to  the  guardian  care  of  the  almighty 
and  most  merciful  God,  and  in  imploring  every  blessing 
upon  you. 

I  am,  my  dear  Tudor, 

Affectionately  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 


TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  Dec,  ISth,  1814. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  intended  to  have  answered  your  very  friendly  and  accep- 
table letter  by  Mr.  Campbell.  But  unfortunately  1  missed 
that  oportunity. 

The  state  of  religion  in  Virginia  upon  the  whole  is  not 
very  promising,  although,  in  some  parts,  particularly  Prince 
Edward,  there  is  some  excitement.  The  war  bears  very 
heavily  upon  us  ;  and  we  are  all  heartily  tired  of  it.  But 
how  to  get  it  off  our  hands  is  the  great  puzzle.  Here  in 
Richmond,  we  are  scuffling  along  with  great  difficulty. 

I  have  a  brother  bishop  here  who  attracts  notice  from 
the  rich  and  great,  but  I  apprehend  that  he  will  find  it  no 
easy  matter  to  mould  them  into  good  churchmen.  Yet 
bishop  Moore  appears  to  be  a  zealous  and  pious  man,  and 
I  hope  will  do  good  among  the  people.  He  is  uncom- 
monly friendly  to  me,  and  I  am  resolved  that  it  shall  not  be 
my  fault  if  he  does  not  continue  so.  1  am  indeed  apprehen- 
sive that  we  shall  have  a  controversy  in  this  state  between 
Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians ;  but  I  hope  if  this  should 


DOCTOR     RICE.  -109 

be  the  case,  that  we  shall  act  entirely  on  the  defensive.  Con- 
troversies among  christians  are  very  rarely  if  ever  productive 
of  good,  and  among  us  would  perhaps  be  highly  injurious. 
What  may  be  the  effect  of  the  bishop's  settling  here  on 
Presbyterianism,  I  am  not  yet  able  to  say.  I  hope  however, 
that  no  harm  will  be  done ;  perhaps  just  the  reverse.  I 
commit  the  affair  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 

Remember  me  most  affectionately  to  Mrs.  Alexander,  and 
to  your  boys.  Mrs.  Rice  joins  me  in  this,  as  also  in  expres- 
sions of  sincere  regard  for  yourself. 

I  am  yours  assuredly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ,. 

Richmond,  Feb,  Sth,  1815. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Your  letter  has  been  received  ;  and  I  should  have  answered 
it  at  an  earlier  period,  but  I  have  been  in  trouble  and  per- 
plexity. 

As  soon  as  I  received  your  favour,  I  determined  to  accept 
the  invitation  made  by  your  society  ;  and  if  nothing  prevent, 
I  will  be  in  Norfolk  at  the  time  mentioned.  But  I  may  be 
prevented.  On  Saturday  last  Mrs.  Rice  left  me  in  great  haste, 
and  in  deep  affliction,  on  account  of  intelligence  from  Prince 
Edward.  Her  mother,  my  invaluable  friend,  my  second 
mother,  lay  extremely  ill,  it  was  thought  at  the  point  of 
death.  I  have  not  heard  from  Mrs.  Rice  since  her  arrival  at 
her  father's ;  but  this  morning  an  officer  from  Prince  Edward 
who  had  gone  home  on  furlough,  passed  through  town,  and 
reported  that  he  had  heard  that  Mrs.  Morton  was  dead ;  and 
I  fear  it  is  so.  As  soon  therefore  as  I  hear  from  Mrs.  Rice, 
which  will  be  on  Thursday,  I  expect  to  set  out  to  Prince 
Edward.  What  detention  I  may  experience  there,  I  know 
not.  I  shall,  on  all  the  accounts  suggested  by  you,  be  anxi- 
ous to  be  in  Norfolk  at  the  time  specified.     But  we  must 

11 


110  MEMOIR     OF 

leave  all  to  God.  His  will  is  "wisest,  holiest,  best;"  sub- 
mission to  it  becomes  us.  And  in  the  case  of  my  dear  mo- 
ther, (for  she  was  a  mother  to  me,)  there  is  every  reason  to 
be  satisfied.  Altering  the  words  of  the  poet  a  very  little,  I 
can  say,  "  Her  upward  flight  my  mother  took,  if  ever  soul 
ascended."  And  she  has  left  a  precious  inheritance  of 
prayers  offered  up  in  faith  for  her  children.  I  rejoice  to  be 
enrolled  in  the  number;  I  had  rather  claim  relationship  with 
such  as  are  owned  the  children  of  God,  than  be  acknow- 
ledged the  kinsman  of  the  greatest  on  earth.  I  have  friends 
in  heaven.  This  is  a  cheering  thought  to  me.  But  my 
private  feelings  are  carrying  me  on  strangely. 

Miller's  work  is  not  in  town.  I  have  spoken  to  a  book- 
seller to  send  for  the  number  of  copies  mentioned  by  you. 
I  think  it  a  very  valuable  work.  Did  you  ever  see  the  Dis- 
senting Gentleman's  Three  Letters  to  Mr.  White?  That  is 
one  of  the  ablest  things  that  I  have  read  on  the  controversy. 
It  is  keen  as  a  razor,  only  it  does  not  cut  so  smoothly.  It  is 
rather  harsh. 

We  go  on  very  smoothly  here  as  yet.  How  long  it  may 
be  the  case  I  know  not.  "I  am  for  peace,"  but  not  alto- 
gether unprepared  for  war. 

Commend  me  to  your  mother  and  sister,  to  Mr.  W 

and  family,  and  to  all  friends  in  Norfolk.     May  the  mercy, 
and  peace  of  God  rest  upon  you.    Pray  for  us  in  Richmond. 
I  am  truly  your  friend. 

John  H.  Rice. 


TO    WILLIAM    MAXWELL,    ESQ. 

WilUngto7i,  P.  Edward,  March  1st,  1815. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

When  I  last  had  the  pleasure  of  writing  to  you,  I  observed 
that  I  might  be  prevented  from  fulfilling  my  intentions  in 
regard  to  my  Norfolk  trip.  And  it  has  happened  even  as  I 
feared.     The  melancholy  event  which  I  so  much  dreaded 


DOCTOR     RICE.  Ill 

has  taken  place.  It  has  pleased  God  to  remove  from  this 
world,  the  dearest  and  best  friend  that  I  ever  had.  One  who 
in  all  respects  fully  supplied  the  place  of  a  mother  to  me. 
This  has  left  several  justly  dear  to  me,  and  very  dear  too,  in 
a  state  needing  all  the  consolation  that  I  can  afford,  and  much 
more. 

I  felt  myself  obliged,  on  every  principle,  to  come  to 
Prince  Edward.  But  I  had  made  arrangements  to  come 
and  spend  near  a  fortnight  here,  and  still  be  in  Norfolk  by 
next  Saturday.  Just  however  as  I  was  about  to  set  out  on 
my  journey.  Providence  ordered  that  I  should  be  taken  vio- 
lendy  sick.  I  was  seized  with  an  ague,  and  for  about  forty- 
eight  hours  was  so  sick  as  greatly  to  alarm  my  friends.  My 
confinement  lasted  a  week.  I  did  not  even  then  despair  of 
accomplishing  my  purposes ;  but,  having  procured  a  carriage, 
set  out  to  Prince  Edward,  with  the  intention  of  returning  by 
this  evening  to  Richmond,  and  going  on  my  way  to  Norfolk 
to-morrow.  But  here  again  Providence  interposed,  and  by 
rain,  hail,  and  snow,  detained  me  nearly  a  week  on  the  road; 
and  it  was  with  very  great  difficulty  that  I  arrived  here  on 
the  26th  ult.  in  the  evening.  I  have  given  you  this  dull  nar- 
rative, that  you  may  see  that  I  have  not  lightly,  and  for 
slight  cause,  failed  to  be  with  you  at  the  time  mentioned  in 
your  letter. 

My  heart  was  greatly  fixed  on  going.  Why  Providence 
has  disappointed  me,  I  know  not.  But  it  is  all  for  the  best. 
I  ought  not  to  murmur,  especially  since  I  have  before  my 
eyes  the  edifying  example  of  resignation  exhibited  by  the 
dear  family  where  I  now  am.  Never,  indeed,  was  woman 
more  highly,  nor  more  deservedly  honoured,  nor  more  sin- 
cerely loved  as  a  wife,  a  mother,  a  neighbour,  and  a  friend, 
than  Mrs.  Morton.  But  she  is  gone!  And  all  seem  to 
say,  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away, 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  And  well  they  may 
say  so.  For  although  their  loss  is  irreparable,  yet  they 
have  the  consolation  of  thinking  that  never  soul  took  its 


112  MEMOIR      OF 

flight  from  this  world  of  change  and  sorrow,  more  matured 
for  heaven  than  was  hers.  She  is  gone  to  rest  in  the 
bosom  of  her  Father  and  her  God.  Let  us  be  also  ready. 
For  we  know  not  the  day  nor  the  horn',  when  we  are  to  go. 
We  have  a  work  to  do.  Let  us  not  forget  that  "  the  night 
Cometh." 

I  congratulate  you  on  the  restoration  of  peace.  God 
grant  that  his  judgments  and  mercies  may  not  be  in  vain. 
Let  us  seize  the  happy  opportunity  now  afforded  us,  to 
promote  plans  of  public  utility,  especially  let  us  remember 
the  Theological  School. 

When  I  left  Richmond,  I  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
printer  a  prospectus  for  a  religious  weejily  paper,  and  de- 
sired him  to  send  you  a  copy  of  it.  If  you  can  do  any 
thing  for  the  thing  in  Norfolk,  be  so  good  as  to  let  me 
know. 

Present  me   affectionately  to    your   mother,  sister,   and 

Mr.  W — — 's  family ;  also  to  Mr.  McP ,  and  all  his. 

I  am,  truly  yours, 

John  H.  Rice, 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ. 

Richmond,  June  2d,  1815. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

1  wish  to  keep  up  a  pretty  brisk  intercourse  with  Norfolk, 
and  therefore  write  thus  early. 

Mr.   G ,  I    suppose,  has    told  you    what   a   dismal 

passage  we  had  to  York.  The  rest  of  the  way  was  comfort- 
able, except  that  I  had  some  reason  to  dread  the  fate  which 
Horace  once  so  much  apprehended. — Some  Sybil  might 
have  foretold  :  "  He  need  not  fear  the  breaking  down  of  the 
stage — nor  the  running  away  of  the  horses — a  talkative  man 
will  be  the  death  of  him."  But  I  survived  the  eternal  clack 
of  *  *  * ;  and  in  better  health  than  could  be  expected ;  and 
after  broiling  in  the  sun,  and  breathing  night  air,  and  losing 
sleep,  and  (worst  of  all)    hearing   nonsense  on  religion,  I 


DOCTOR      RICE.  113 

arrived  at  home  on  Tuesday  evening,  and  found  Mrs.  Rice 
in  much  better  health  than  when  I  took  my  departure  from 
Richmond. 

The  people  here  had  a  good  deal  of  preaching  while  I  was 
gone,  much  of  which  they  thought  to  be  evangelical.  My  con- 
gregation pretty  generally  attended.  They  disliked  the  abun- 
dant parade  and  form  ;  but  liked  the  preaching.  They  were 
pleased,  too,  with  most  things  in  the  ministers;  but  disapproved 
the  keen  spirit  of  proselytism  manifested  by  them.  This  is 
ardent  and  active  enough  beyond  all  doubt,  and  you  will 
very  probably  see  a  sample  of  it  before  long.  This  spirit 
will  produce  irritation  and  offence  which  I  fear  will  ripen 
into  controversy.     May  God  avert  this  ! 

I  shall  not  be  able  to  send  out  my  Monitor  as  soon  as  I 
expected.  The  printer  is  disappointed  in  receiving  the 
paper. 

Present  me  most  affectionately   to  your  mother,  to  my 

sister  Louisa,  to  Mrs.  W ,  and  to  your  other  friends. 

To  all  who  inquire  for  me,  give  my  christian  love. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  me  in  best  wishes,  and  kindest  regards, 
I  am  truly,  your  friend  and  brother, 

John  H.  Rice. 

Some  time  early  in  the  summer  of  this  year,  (1815,)  Mr. 
Rice  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  the  building  of  the  new 
church  for  his  congregation,  which  had  been  so  long  talked 
of,  begun  at  last  in  good  earnest.  Through  the  indefatiga- 
ble exertions  of  his  friend  Mr.  Parkhill,  and  some  others, 
the  house  and  lot  near  Rocketts  had  been  sold  again,  for  the 
sum  of  nine  thousand  dollars,  and  a  subscription  raised  for 
building  a  new  church,  amounting  to  about  eight  thousand 
dollars  more.  A  lot,  also,  had  been  bought  in  a  convenient, 
and  nearly  central  position,  near  the  Market  House,  and  not 
far  from  the  Mason's  Hall;  and,  peace  having  now  re  turned, 
it  was  determined  to  build  a  handsome  house  of  worship  on 
the  site,  without  delay.     The  building  was  accordingly  com- 

11* 


114  MEMOIR     OF 

menced  at  this  time,  and  seemed  to  be  going  on  almost  as 
rapidly  as  he  could  wish. 

On  the  8th  of  July  following,  he  issued  the  first  number  of 
a  weekly  religious  newspaper,  entitled  the  Christian  Monitor, 
which,  I  believe,  was  the  first  publication  of  the  kind  that 
had  ever  appeared  in  Richmond;  and  shortly  afterwards, 
finding  that  his  health  had  been  much  impaired  by  the  attack 
of  the  epidemic  which  he  had  suffered  during  the  preceding 
fall  and  winter,  he  left  town,  and  spent  about  two  months 
among  the  mountains,  principally  at  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  and  thereabouts,  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting  his 
health ;  and  with  good  effect. 

In  October  following,  turning  his  face  homewards,  he 
proceeded  to  Staunton,  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  Synod 
which  was  held  in  that  place.  Here,  the  subject  of  the 
Theological  Seminary,  which  was  always  near  his  heart, 
commanded  his  particular  attention ;  and  (at  his  instance  I 
suppose)  the  Synod  passed  a  resolution  appointing  him,  to- 
gether with  the  Rev.  Wm.  Hill,  and  Wm.  Wirt,  Esq.  a  com- 
mittee to  present  a  memorial  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
State,  praying  for  the  passage  of  an  act  to  incorporate  the 
Trustees  of  that  Institution ;  merely  for  the  purpose,  I  be- 
lieve, of  securing  its  funds  which  were  now  increasing,  and 
promised  to  become  considerable. 

Whilst  he  was  here  also,  he  received  the  following  letter 
from  Mr.  Randolph,  of  Roanoke,  to  whom  it  seems  he  had 
some  time  before  sent  a  copy  of  Foster's  Essays,  and  a  copy 
of  Wilberforce's  Practical  View,  accompanied  by  a  letter  of 
exhortation  in  which  he  had  earnestly  endeavoured  to  lead 
that  gentleman,  (for  whose  talents,  and  some  points  of  his 
character,  he  had  a  very  lively  admiration,)  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  Christ, 


DOCTOR    RICE.  115 

TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  H.  RICE. 

Roanoke,  Sept,  Sth,  1815. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Dr.  Dudley  brought  me  your  letter  of  the  10th  of  July, 
from  last  Charlotte  Court.  I  fear  lest  you  may  think  me 
unmindful,  if  not  ungrateful,  of  the  kind  interest  which  you 
have  been  pleased  to  take  in  my  welfare.  You  have  a  better 
reward  than  my  poor  thanks,  and  yet  I  am  not  satisfied  that 
you  should  not  receive  even  them.  I  read  Foster's  Essays 
with  great  attention,  and,  notwithstanding  the  very  revolting 
dress  in  which  he  has  presented  himself  to  his  readers,  I  was 
higWy  gratified.  I  never  saw  a  work  of  which  it  might  be 
less  truly  said  materiem  superabat  opus.  I  shall  read  your 
other  little  present  with  the  attention*  which  I  doubt  not  it 
deserves,  but  which  the  design  of  the  donor  eminently 
merits.  My  good  Sir,  I  fear  that  you  have  bestowed  your 
culture  upon  a  most  thankless  soil.  I  am  led  to  this  appre- 
hension from  the  consciousness  that  this  world  and  all  that  it 
inherits  have  no  longer  value  in  my  eyes.  Am  I  not  then 
more  than  usually  culpable  if  I  set  not  my  heart  upon  another 
and  a  better  workl  ?  And  yet  with  a  firm  conviction  of  the 
necessity  of  pardon  and  of  reconciliation  with  a  justly 
offended  God,  I  am  almost  insensible  to  the  motives  that 
ought  to  actuate  one  in  my  condition.  Occasionally  indeed 
I  am  penetrated,  as  I  ought  to  be,  with  the  sense  of  the  mercy 
of  my  Creator,  but  the  weight  of  my  unworthiness  bows  me 
down,  and  seems  to  render  impossible  the  idea  that  such  as 
I  am  should  be  accepted  by  him.  My  dear  Sir,  it  is  your 
partial  friendship  that  shadows  out  in  me  an  American  Wil- 
berforce.  What  have  I  done,  what  can  I  ever  do,  to  merit 
so  flattering  an  eulogium  ?  I  am  even  now  in  a  state  of  war- 
fare, while  that  good  and  great  man  appears  to  have  attained 

*  I  have  since  done  so  with  much  satisfaction. 


116  MEMOIR    OF 

that  peace  which  passeth  all  understanding.  I  wished  to 
thank  you  for  your  kind  attention  to  me,  and  therefore  this 
letter  has  been  written :  how  inadequate  to  the  expression  of 
my  feelings  no  one  but  myself  can  tell.  The  want  of  some 
friend  to  whom  I  can  pour  out  my  thoughts  as  they  arise, 
is  not  the  least  of  the  privations  under  which  I  labour. 

Sept.  29th,  1815. 

Whilst  writing  the  above,  my  good  old  neighbour,  Col. 
WilUam  Morton,  called  to  see  me,  and  informed  me  that  you 
and  Mrs.  Rice  had  gone  to  the  Springs.     I  am  glad  to  learn 

from  a  letter  of  Mrs.  T to  Miss  L M ,  that  you 

have  derived  benefit  from  the  journey,  and  that  she  is  quite 
well.  Last  Sunday  I  had  the  pleasure  to  hear  your  brother 
and  Mr.  Hoge  preach  at  Bethesda.  The  day  before  Mr. 
Lyle  gave  us  an  excellent  discourse.  To-morrow  I  hope  to 
hear  Mr.  Hoge  again,  at  College.  I  have  been  much  dis- 
turbed during  the  last  week,  particularly  at  night,  when  my 
mind  exerts  an  activity  that  is  painful  and  exhausting. 

I  shall  send  this  letter  over  to  Staunton  by  some  private 
hand,  as  I  hear  you  attend  the  Synod  there. 
I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Your  obliged  humble  Servant, 

John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke, 
Rev.  John  H.  Rice. 

P.  S.  There  are  forms  of  expression  used  by  clerical 
gentlemen  that  I  find  myself  at  a  loss  to  comprehend.  I  can 
annex  no  definite  idea  to  them.  There  are  also  such  to  be 
found  in  the  epistles  of  Paul,  and  some  other  books  of  the 
New  Testament.  Are  the  opinions  which  you  so  zealously 
recommend  to  me  the  doctrines  of  Calvin  on  the  subject  of 
election  and  p:edestination  ?  Those  of  Dr.  H.  are  far  more 
acceptable  to  my  mind.  He  does  not  (as  I  apprehend)  differ 
from  the  moderate  divines  of  our  church;  holding,  if  I 
mistake  not,  a  medium  between  Calvin  and  Arminius.* 

*  It  may  be  proper  to  note  that  Mr.  Randolph  was  entirely  mistaken 
in  supposing  that  there  was  any  difference  between  the  opinions  of 


DOCTOR    RICE.  117 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  RANDOLPH. 

Richmond,  October  2Gth  1815. 
Mr  Beloved  Friend, 

I  suppose  that  before  you  receive  this  letter,  you  will 
have  heard  of  our  prosperous  journey,  and  safe  return  to 
our  humble  home.  Mrs.  Rice's  health,  as  well  as  my  own, 
has  been  greatly  benefited.  Of  a  truth,  we  may  say  that 
"goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  us"  through  our 
whole  course.  You  will  join  with  us  in  returning  thanks 
to  the  all-wise  and  merciful  God,  who  thus  favours  us. 

Since  I  saw  you  at  Mr.  Woodson's,  I  have  felt,  if  possi- 
ble, a  deeper  interest  in  what  concerns  you,  than  T  had  ever 
done  before.  The  sympathy  excited  for  my  friends  there, 
seemed  to  be  transferred  to  you,  and  I  could  not  help  con- 
templating, I  hardly  know  why,  your  situation  as  in  many 
respects  similar  to  theirs.  They  had  been  at  one  stroke 
deprived  of  their  earthly  all ;  and  I  regarded  you  as  finally 
separated  from  him  on  whom  your  worldly  dependance 
was  chiefly  placed.  Since  that  time,  I  have  been  unable  to 
banish  the  idea  from  my  mind.  I  knew,  indeed,  that  you 
had  been  taught  to  seek  better  support  and  comfort  than 
even  a  darling  son  could  afford ;  that  you  had  chosen  God 
for  your  God.  I  believed  that  He,  who  never  forsakes 
those  who  put  their  trust  in  Him,  was  your  friend  and  pro- 
tector; but  yet  I  could  not  think  of  you  without  a  feeling 
of  melancholy.  I  place  no  confidence  in  these  presages, 
and  yet  I  greatly  fear,  my  beloved  friend,  that  you  are  ap- 
pointed to  experience  a  bitterness  of  sorrow  which  per- 
haps you  have  not  yet  suffered.  What  your  heavenly 
Father  will  do  for  you,  I  know  not,  except  that  he  will  be 

Dr.  Hoge  and  those  of  Mr.  Rice,  whicli  were  in  fact  the  same,  being 
those  of  pure  Calvinism,  which,  by  the  way,  is  itself  the  medium  be- 
tween Fatalism  and  Arminianism,  and  so  near  to  both,  (though  far 
enough  from  either,)  that  it  admits  of  nothing  else  between  them. 


118  MEMOIR      OF 

faithful  to  his  promises.  About  two  weeks  ago,  I  under- 
stand that  Mr.  Taylor  received  letters  from  Liverpool, 
giving  a  very  gloomy  account  of  the  state  of  our  dear 
Tudor's  health.  So  far  from  any  amendment,  it  was  mani- 
festly much  worse.  I  have  not  seen  the  letters,  but  under- 
stand that  they  were  such  as  to  excite  in  Mr.  Taylor's 
mind  very  distressing  apprehensions.  As  soon  as  I  heard 
this,  I  determined  that  it  was  my  duty  (inexpressibly  pain- 
ful as  it  is,)  to  communicate  it  to  you.  This  may  account 
for  your  not  receiving  letters  for  so  long  a  time  from  our  dear 
boy.  I  understand  too,  that  the  letter  from  Mr.  Marx, 
which  you  received  some  time  ago,  gave  an  account  which 
originated  in  misconception.  There  is  no  reason  to  believe 
that  Tudor's  health  was  at  all  improved  by  the  voyage,  or 
by  the  use  of  the  waters,  I  need  not  repeat  to  you  with 
what  reluctance  and  sorrow  I  make  this  statement;  am  not 
I  a  sufferer  too  ?  Was  not  Tudor  the  son  of  my  affection  ? 
His  loss  will  be  a  bereavement  to  me  also.  I  wish  to 
say,  "It  is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  with  me  what  seemeth 
him  good,"  and  I  pray  God  to  enable  you  also,  my 
afflicted  friend,  to  say  the  same  thing.  He  suffereth  not  a 
sparrow  to  fall  to  the  ground  without  his  permission ;  and 
surely  the  life  of  a  human  being,  of  a  son,  the  son  of  many 
prayers,  will  not  be  cut  short,  but  in  infinite  wisdom  and 
goodness.  What  though  the  divine  purposes  be  hid  from 
our  view ;  and  the  dispensation  prove  inscrutable  and  over- 
whelming, yet  in  the  end  it  will  be  made  plain.  God  be 
merciful  to  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  sustain  you  by  his 
almighty  love.  Nancy  joins  with  me  in  most  affectionate 
sympathy;  and  in  most  earnest  prayers,  that  He  who  is 
the  husband  of  the  widow,  and  the  comforter  of  the 
afflicted,  may  be  your  stay  and  support. 

With  sincere  friendship, 

I  am,  yours,  &c. 

John  H.  Rice. 
P.S.  Your  suspense   and  mine  will  soon  be  removed. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  119 

The  Philip  Tabb  is  arrived,  and  Mr.  Edmund  Taylor  is 
come  passenger  in  her.  From  him  you  will  learn  the  whole 
truth.* 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  November  16th,  1815. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

The  day  after  my  return  from  up  the  country,  an  old 
friend,  Mr.  Lacy  came  to  my  house  in  his  way  to  Phila- 
delphia. He  is  afflicted  with  the  stone,  and  is  gone  with 
the  view  of  having  a  surgical  operation  performed.  This, 
at  his  time  of  life  especially,  is  a  serious  matter.  But  an 
event  which  has  taken  place  since  his  departure  from  home, 
makes  his  situation  as  distressing  as  it  well  can  be.  About  the 
first  of  the  present  month,  Mrs.  Lacy  was  taken  with  the 
disease  which  proved  so  fatal  last  winter,  and  died  on  the 
eighth  day.  Of  this  melancholy  change,  Mr.  Lacy  as  yet 
knows  nothing;  and  it  is  my  wish  that  he  may  not  hear  of  it 
until  some  time  after  the  operation  on  him  shall  have  been 
performed.  1  do  not  know  what  his  family  will  determine 
to  do  respecting  this  matter;  but  such  has  been  my  advice 
to  them.  If  the  situation  of  your  affairs  would  permit  you 
to  pay  Mr.  Lacy  a  visit  in  Philadelphia,  it  would  be  pecu- 
liarly gratifying  to  him.  Would  that  I  could  do  something 
for  the  comfort  of  our  old  brother.  I  trust  that  the  God 
"  whose  he  is  and  whom  he  serves,"  will  not  forsake 
him  in  this  distressing  hour.t 

*  Mr.  R's  worst  apprehensions  were  soon  confirmed.  His  beloved 
pupil  had  died  at  Cheltenham,  in  England,  on  the  18th  of  August  pre- 
ceding. There  was,  however,  hope  in  his  death  ;  as  the  lady  at  whose 
house  he  lodged  at  the  time,  (and  who  was  a  pious  Presbyterian,) 
reported  that  he  had  evidently  enjoyed  the  consolations  and  support 
of  religion  in  his  last  hours.  "  The  last  words,"  says  Mr.  R.  in  another 
letter  to  his  mother,  "that  our  dear  boy  uttered,  to  be  distinctly  heard, 
were,'  dont  grieve  for  me,  for  I  die  happy.'  " 

t  This  excellent  man  died  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Robert  Ralston,  in 


120  MEMOIR     OF 

Our  new  house  of  worship  will,  I  expect,  be  covered 
in  within  the  next  fortnight;  and  there  is  every  reason 
to  hope  that  it  will  be  finished  early  next  spring.  There 
seems  to  be  but  little  doubt,  but  that  the  pews  will  be 
taken  up,  and  there  will,  very  probably,  be  a  call  for 
more  than  the  house  will  contain.  So  that,  after  a  long 
and  hard  struggle,  it  seems  as  though  by  the  favour  of 
a  gracious  Providence,  we  should  get  through  all  our 
difficulties.  While  the  church  is  building,  I  continue 
to  preach  in  the  Mason's  Hall.  My  labours  in  various 
ways  are  very  hard  here.  For  although  I  have  not  a  large 
congregation,  the  people  are  much  scattered,  and  they  re- 
quire much  attention.  Besides,  I  am  very  often  called  to 
visit  the  sick  who  belong  to  no  church,  and  frequently 
those  of  other  societies,  to  which  calls  I  make  it  a  point  to 
attend. 

In  addition  to  this,  I  have  undertaken  to  edit  a  paper, 
which  1  call  the  Christian  Monitor.  In  this  work  I  ex- 
pected much  assistance  from  my  brethren,  but  have  re- 
ceived none  as  yet.  I  find  the  business  very  troublesome. 
I  wish  that  you  would  now  and  then  send  me  something 
good  and  practical,  in  the  way  of  aid  to  a  brother  worn 
out  by  labour. 

The  Episcopalians  are  making  a  mighty  effort  in  this 
st:ite  to  revive  their  church.  At  first  I  thought  that  they  were 
setting  out  on  true  evangelical  principles,  and  was  heartily 
enough  disposed  to  take  them  by  the  hand,  and  bid  them 

riiiladelphia,  on  the  6th  of  December,  1815.  The  operation  had  been 
performed  upon  him,  by  Dr.  Dorscy,  with  great  skill,  and  at  first  with 
good  hope ;  but  alarming  symptoms  soon  appeared,  and  after  suffering 
the  most  excruciating  pains  for  some  days,  (which  lie  bore  with  exem- 
plary patience,)  he  found  a  peaceful  and  joyful  rest  in  death.  Mr. 
L.  was  a  most  worthy  man,  and  a  zealous  and  faithful  preacher  of 
the  gospel ;  and  his  memory  is  still  warmly  cherished  in  the  hearts 
of  many  friends. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  121 

God  speed;  but  it  now  seems  to  me,  as  though  they  meant 
to  pull  down  the  buildmg  of  others,  in  order  to  erect  their 
own.  They  aim  especially  at  the  Presbyterians,  I  suppose 
because  they  find  us  more  in  their  way  than  any  other  class 
of  people.  Their  conduct  is  such  as,  I  fear,  will  make  it 
necessary  for  us  to  oppose  them.  In  fact,  we  shall  certainly 
be  plagued  with  a  religious  controversy.  The  combatants 
are  already  beginning  to  rub  up  their  armour,  and  prepare 
themselves  for  the  combat.  Even  the  man  Moses,  who  is 
among  us  proverbial  for  meekness,  has  his  spirit  roused, 
and  is  determined,  I  believe,  to  step  forth  as  the  Champion 
of  Presbyterianism.  I  have,  for  my  part,  resolved  not  to 
strike  the  first  blow;  but  I  wish  to  be  ready  to  defend 
myself." 

On  Tuesday,  the  2d  of  January  following,  (1816,)  hav- 
ing been  appointed,  as  we  have  seen,  by  the  Synod  of 
Virginia,  one  of  a  committee  to  present  a  petition  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  state,  now  in  session,  for  an  act 
to  incorporate  the  Trustees  of  their  Theological  Seminary, 
Mr.  Rice  appeared  at  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Delegates, 
and  made  a  speech  in  favour  of  it,  which  gained  him  much 
credit.  The  petition  had  been  presented  early  in  the  ses- 
sion, and  had  been  referred  to  the  committee  of  Proposi- 
tions and  Grievances,  who  had  afterwards  reported  it  with 
a  resolution  that  it  was  reasonable.  It  had,  however,  been 
laid  upon  the  table,  for  this  day,  and  was  now  called  up, 
according  to  order,  when  a  member,  (Mr.  Baker  of  Cum- 
berland,) moved  to  amend  the  resolution  of  the  committee, 
by  striking  therefrom  the  words,  "is  reasonable,"  and  in- 
serting in  lieu  thereof  the  words,  "  be  rejected;"  and  the 
qnestion  being  upon  this  motion,  Mr.  Rice,  according  to  a 
previous  resolution  of  the  house,  was  admitted  to  be  heard 
against  it.  His  position  on  this  occasion,  was  entirely 
novel,  and,  of  course,  rather  embarrassing;   especially,  as 

12 


122  MEMOIR     OF 

he  had  learned  by  this  time,  that  he  was  about  to  advocate 
a  very  ungracious  cause,  and  one  which  could  expect  no 
favour,  and  hardly  quarter  from  the  house.  It  is  said,  how- 
ever, that  he  acquitted  himself  remarkably  well,  and  dis- 
played no  small  share  both  of  ability  and  address,  in  an 
argument  of  considerable  length,  in  which  he  very  fairly 
answered  all  the  objections  that  had  been  conjured  up 
against  the  petition,  and  "  convinced"  the  minds  of  many 
members  "  against  their  will."  They  were,  however,  of 
course,  "  of  the  same  opinion  still;"  and  neither  his  argu- 
ment, nor  the  eloquence  of  his  friend  Mr.  Wirt,  who  was 
subsequently  heard  against  the  motion,  and  made  a  very 
handsome  speech  on  the  subject,  could  prevail  against  the 
prejudices  and  predetermination  of  the  majority,  who 
finally  carried  the  motion,  and  rejected  the  petition,  by  a 
strong  and  decisive  vote. 

This  result  was  mortifying  enough  in  itself;  but,  what 
was  worse  still,  it  was  found  that  the  mere  preferring  of  the 
pethion  had  excited  no  small  odium  against  the  Synod,  and 
against  the  whole  body  of  Presbyterians  in  the  state,  who 
were  now  gravely  charged,  by  some,  with  actually  aiming  to 
obtain  a  new  religious  establishment  for  their  own  sect.  It 
is  true  the  accusation  was  hardly  believed,  even  by  its  in- 
ventors, but  it  suited  the  views  of  many  at  the  time  to  affect 
to  credit  it,  or  at  least  to  let  it  run  ;  and  Mr.  Rice,  who  was 
always  alive  to  every  thing  that  concerned  the  interest  and 
honour  of  the  denomination  to  which  he  belonged,  now  felt 
himself  called  upon  to  vindicate  his  brethren  and  himself 
from  the  aspersion,  and  from  other  injurious  imputations  which 
were  being  cast  upon  them.  Accordingly,  he  hastened  to 
write,  and  soon  afterwards  published,  a  pamphlet  entitled  "An 
Illustration  of  the  Character  and  Conduct  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Virginia ;"  in  which,  (after  briefly  reciting  the 
causes  which  had  prompted  the  publication,)  he  proceeds  to 
show  that  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  and 
particularly  in  Virginia,  had  ever  proved  itself  entirely  libe- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  123 

ral  in  the  whole  course  of  its  conduct  towards  other  denomina- 
tions of  christians;  particularly  friendly  and  serviceable  to  the 
cause  of  the  country  during  our  revolutionary  contest,  and  to 
all  our  republican  institutions;  and  uniformly  and  utterly  oppo- 
sed to  every  thing  like  a  religious  establishment,  or  the  adop- 
tion by  the  state  of  any  one  sect  to  the  exclusion  of  every  other. 
All  this  he  establishes  very  clearly  by  copious  quotations 
from  the  Form  of  Government  and  Discipline  of  the  Church 
itself;  (on  which  he  gives  us  some  very  proper  and  perti- 
nent remarks;)  by  the  Memorials  of  the  Presbytery  of  Han- 
over presented  to  the  General  Assembly,  at  various  times, 
from  the  year  1776  to  1784 ;  and  a  Memorial  of  the  Minis- 
ters and  Lay  Representatives  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
Virginia,  assembled  in  Convention,  in  1785,  all  breathing 
the  very  spirit  of  religious  liberty,  and  of  devoted  attachment 
to  the  true  rights  of  man.  These  documents,  indeed,  (which 
are  all  copied  from  the  originals  preserved  in  the  office  of  the 
clerk  of  the  House  of  Delegates,  and  are  ably  written,)  reflect 
the  highest  honour  upon  the  writers,  and  upon  the  bodies 
which  they  represented ;  and  must  ever  serve  to  set  the  cha- 
racter and  conduct  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  at  the  periods 
to  which  they  belong,  in  the  strongest  and  fairest  light. 

It  still  remained  for  him,  however,  to  show  that  there  was 
nothing  in  the  late  act  of  the  Synod  in  praying  for  an  incor- 
poration of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  their  Theological  Semi- 
nary, inconsistent  with  the  principles  and  fame  of  the 
fathers  of  the  church ;  and  this  he  does  at  some  length,  and, 
as  I  think  all  candid  readers  will  agree,  with  perfect  suc- 
cess. 

The  pamphlet,  thus  written,  was  extensively  read,  and 
did  much  good.  It  had  the  happy  efl'ect  at  least,  in  many 
instances,  of  softening  the  prejudices  which  had  been  artifi- 
cially excited  against  the  Presbyterians  as  a  body,  and  of 
conciHating  the  favour  of  some  who  were  most  able  to  appre- 
ciate their  merits ;  so  that,  in  the  end,  it  is  probable  that  the 


124  MEMOIR     OF 

interests  of  that  denomination  were  rather  promoted  than  in- 
jured by  the  fate  of  the  petition. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Fichmond,  March  16,  1816. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

A  friend  has  just  called  on  me  on  his  way  to  New  York, 
by  whom  I  send  this,  and  with  it  a  hastily  written,  badly 
printed  pamphlet,  which  1  have  thought  it  my  duty  to  write. 
Will  you  accept  of  it  as  a  token  of  my  affectionate  regard. 
Our  petition  had  no  effect.  The  prejudices  against  us  are 
strong,  and  many  measures  are  adopted  to  increase  them. 

We  had  the  affliction  to  lose  our  highly  esteemed  friend 
Mrs.  Randolph  last  Sabbath.  She  died  in  my  house.  I  have 
no  wish,  in  reference  to  my  last  end,  but  that  it  may  be  like 
hers.* 

Mrs.  Rice  desires  to  be  affectionately  remembered  to  Mrs. 
A.  as  does  yours,  most  sincerely. 

J.  H.  Rice. 

*  Shortly  after  receiving-  the  intelligence  of  her  son's  death,  she  had 
embraced  the  ofl-repeated  and  now  earnestly  renewed  invitation  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rice,  and  come  down  to  Richmond  to  spend  her  remaining 
days  with  them.  These,  however,  were  fated  to  be  few;  for  she  was 
soon  taken  sick,  and,  after  a  painful  illness,  which  she  bore  with  exem- 
plary patience,  she  died  on  the  10th  of  March,  1816.  Her  life  had  been 
a  tissue  of  sorrows;  but  her  end  was  peace.  Her  last  words  were: 
"  Christ  is  my  only  hope.^'* 

There  is  one  circumstance  connected  with  the  death  of  this  lady, 
which  we  have  been  toki,  and  which  we  think  we  ought  not  to  withhold 
from  our  readers.  Finding,  it  seems,  that  her  end  was  approaching,  and 
thinking  it  proper  to  make  her  will,  she  felt  very  desirous  to  leave  her 
best  friend  a  handsome  legacy,  as  a  last  token  of  her  regard  for  him. 
Apprehending,  however,  with  that  delicacy  which  belonged  to  her, 
that  such  an  act  might  possibly  expose  him  to  some  unworthy  imputa- 
tion  of  mercenary  views,  and  prizing  his  honour  above  every  other 
consideration,  she  resolved  to  suppress  her  inclination,  and  leave  him 
nothing.     Still  she  could  not  feel  satisfied  to  do  so,  without  having  the 


DOCTOR      RICE.  125 

TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  H.  RICE. 

?George  Town,  March  16,  1816. 
Dear  Sir, 

Your  letter  of  the  13th  is  this  moment  received.  The 
others  have  all  come  to  hand,  although  generally  one  or  two 
days  later  than  the  due  course  of  mail.  They  would  demand 
my  most  grateful  acknowledgments,  if  they  were  not  already 
due  for  obligations  of  a  far  higher  nature — obligations  by 
which  I  am  bound  not  less  to  Mrs.  Rice  than  to  yourself. 

After  the  first  sharp  pang  was  over,  I  could  not  but  view 
Mrs.  Randolph's  departure  as  a  release  from  sufferings  that  it 
is  to  be  hoped  have  few  examples ;  from  a  world  that  no 
longer  had  a  single  charm  for  her.  I  knew  her  better  than 
any  body  else.  Her  endowments  were  of  the  highest  order: 
and  it  gave  me  the  greatest  comfort,  of  which  under  such 
circumstances  I  am  susceptible,  to  learn  that  she  died  as  every 
christian  could  wish  to  die.  The  manner  in  which  she 
spoke  of  me  in  her  last  moments  is  also  truly  grateful. 

I  received  your  letter  announcing  that  her  case  was  a 
doubtful  one,  the  day  after  Mr.   Leigh's  which  arrived  on 

reason  of  her  conclusion  communicated  to  him;  which  was  accord- 
ingly done;  and  she  had  the  gratification  to  find  that  her  inten- 
tion was  most  fully  and  warmly  approved  by  him.  After  all,  how- 
ever,  when  her  will  came  to  be  opened,  it  was  found  that  she  had 
so  far  altered  her  mind  as  to  have  left  him  a  thousand  dollars; 
and  it  is  believed  that  the  gentleman  who  wrote  her  will,  (an  emi- 
nent member  of  the  bar,  who  was  a  friend  of  hers,  and  to  whom  she 
had  doubtless  communicated  her  feelings  on  the  subject,)  had  advised 
her  that  she  might  very  safely  and  properly  leave  him  such  a  sum  as 
that,  as  all  would  acknowledge  that  it  was,  in  fact,  very  fairly  due  to 
him  as  a  mere  matter  of  debt.  But  Mr.  Rice,  upon  hearing  of  it,  in- 
stantly resolved  not  to  touch  a  cent  of  the  money  for  himself,  but  to 
parcel  it  out  in  donations  to  various  christian  charities  which  he  knew 
she  had  favoured  while  living;  and  actually  disposed  of  the  whole  of  it 

in  that  way. 

12* 


126  MEMOIR      OF 

Saturday.  His  was  much  the  more  alarming  of  the  two. 
On  Sunday  morning  I  awoke  with  the  strongest  impression 
on  my  mind  that  Mrs.  R.  was  no  more :  and  while  penning 
the  note  for  the  prayers  of  the  church  agreeably  to  our  ser- 
vice, I  felt  almost  restrained  by  the  consideration  of  impiety 
in  deprecating  that  which  God  had  willed  and  done.  I 
shook  it  off  however;  but  I  could  not  shake  off  the  impres- 
sion that  she  was  in  the  land  of  spirits.  I  almost  saw  her 
pale  and  shadowy,  purified  from  the  dross  of  the  body, — 
looking  sorrowfully  yet  benignantly  upon  me. 

A  long  letter  from  Mr.  Leigh  yesterday  apprized  rae  that 
the  last  sad  duties  were  performed. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 

With  great  respect, 

Your  obliged  friend  and  servant, 

John  Randolph,  of  Roanoke, 

Shortly  after  the  date  of  his  last  letter,  we  find  him  pre- 
paring to  leave  home,  to  attend  the  meeting  for  the  formation 
of  the  American  Bible  Society,  which  had  been  announced 
as  about  to  be  held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on  the  eighth  of 
May  following.  The  establishment  of  such  an  institution, 
indeed,  so  large  and  liberal  in  its  design,  and  promising  so 
fairly  to  promote  all  the  best  and  dearest  interests  of  our 
country,  and  of  the  world,  naturally  excited  his  attention, 
and  kindled  all  his  warmest  feelings  in  its  behalf.  Accord- 
ingly, he  wrote  to  all  the  auxiliary  societies  of  the  state,  urg- 
ing and  animating  them  to  send  delegates  to  the  proposed 
convention  ;  and,  having  been  himself  appointed  to  represent 
the  Bible  Society  of  Virginia,  and  the  auxiliaries  of  Norfolk, 
Petersburg,  and  Frederick,  he  appears  to  have  anticipated 
the  approaching  meeting  with  the  most  lively  interest ;  as  the 
following  letter  which  he  wrote  at  the  time  may  serve  to 
show. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  127 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  Esq. 

Richmond,  April  lOth,  1816. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Your  last  letter  came  to  hand  by  due  course  of  mail,  and 
I  hasten  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  it,  and  to  return  you 
my  thanks  for  the  pleasure  which  it  afforded  me. 

The  information  which  you  give  me  concerning  the  state 
of  religion  in  Norfolk,  is  particularly  acceptable.  I  rejoice 
to  hear  of  the  success  of  my  brother  Paxton,  than  whom 
there  is  not,  I  believe,  a  more  faithful  labourer  to  be  found  in 
the  vineyard  of  our  Lord.  His  worth  is  great ;  and  1  do  ex- 
pect that  his  usefulness  will  be  considerable.  May  God 
give  him  many  seals  to  his  minstry  ! 

When  I  first  contemplated  this  excursion  to  New  York, 
it  was  my  intention  to  go  by  the  way  of  Norfolk—for  I  do 
long  to  see  the  brethren  there— but  farther  consideration  has 
induced  me  to  alter  this  purpose.  I  wish  to  pass  through 
Fredericksburgh,  Alexandria,  Washington,  and  Baltimore ; 
and  particularly  through  Washington.  Mr.  Wirt  is  taking  a 
deeper  interest  than  he  heretofore  appeared  to  take,  in  the 
affairs  of  religion,  and  especially  in  Bible  Societies ;  and  he 
has  promised  to  introduce  me  to  some  of  the  leading  men 
about  the  city,  that  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of  ascertain- 
ing what  regard  they  will  pay  to  the  proposed  scheme  of 
establishing  a  national  Bible  Society.  It  has  occurred  to  me 
that  it  might  on  many  accounts  be  well  for  me  to  attend  to 
this  business  as  I  go  on;  and  as  Madison,  Monroe,  and  Jef- 
ferson are  all  members  of  the  Bible  Society  of  Virginia,  it  is 
to  be  presumed  that  they  will  not  discountenance  the'  pro- 
posed measure.  'J^his  plan  however  will  make  it  necessary 
for  me  to  leave  home  sometime  before  the  meeting  of  Pres- 
bytery. Indeed  as  the  Presbytery  meets  on  the  second,  and 
the  meeting  in  New  York  is  on  the  eighth  of  May,  it  would 
be  impossible  to  attend  in  Petersburgh  and  be  in  New  York 


128  MEMOIR     OF 

in  proper  time.     So  I  very  much  regret  that  I  shall  miss  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  you,  and  others  of  the  Norfolk  brethren. 

Nothing  but  the  anxiety  -which  I  feel  to  aid  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  an  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  could 
induce  me  to  take  so  long  a  journey  at  the  present  crisis.  I 
trust  that  my  brethren  will  consider  the  state  of  my  people, 
and  pay  all  possible  attention  to  them.  I  place  some  de- 
pendance  on  your  relation,  Mr.  Cowan.  Will  you  ask  him 
whether  he  cannot  spend  a  few  weeks  in  Richmond  and  its 
vicinity  during  my  absence.  I  say  its  vicinity,  because  Mr. 
Kirkpatrick  has  a  vast  field  before  him  for  cultivation,  and 
has  not  strength  equal  to  his  labours.  In  conjunction  then 
with  brother  Kirk,  he  might  be  very  actively,  and,  I  dare 
say,  very  usefully  employed.  Be  so  good  as  to  give  him 
my  affectionate  regards. 

Mrs.  Rice  unites  with  me  in  fraternal  love  to  you,  sister 
Louisa,  and  the  brethren  generally.  She  also  desires  to  be 
particularly  remembered  with  me  to  your  mother,  and  your 
other  sisters.  We  both  pray  that  the  peace  of  God  may  rest 
on  you  all. 

I  am  assuredly  your  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 

Mr.  Wirt's  speech  before  the  assembly  is  in  press.  My 
pamphlet  was  hastily  written,  and  badly  printed.  I  hope 
the  next  will  do  better." 

Accordingly,  he  repaired  soon  afterwards  to  New  York, 
(which  he  now  visited  for  the  first  time,)  and  attended  the 
meeting  of  delegates  from  various  Bible  Societies  which  con- 
vened in  the  consistory  room  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
on  the  8th  of  May,  1816.  Here  he  concurred,  of  course,  in 
the  resolution  which  was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Con- 
vention, *'  that  it  is  expedient  to  establish  without  delay,  a 
general  Bible  Institution,  for  the  circulation  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  without  note  or  comment;"  and  was  appointed 
one  of  the  committee  which  was  raised  to  *'  prepare  the  plan 


DOCTOR     RICE.  129 

of  a  constitution  for  the  Society,  and  an  address  to  the  public 
on  the  nature  and  objects  of  the  institution."  The  constitu- 
tion, however,  (I  suppose)  had  been  already  prepared,  and 
the  writing  of  the  address  was  very  properly  assigned  to 
the  masterly  hand  of  Dr.  Mason;  so  that  he  could  only 
unite,  as  he  doubtless  did  with  all  his  heart,  in  the  adoption 
of  both. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention,  he  proceeded 
to  Philadelphia,  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly, which  was  about  to  be  held  in  that  city ;  (passing,  by 
the  way,  through  Princeton,  w^here  he  was  happy  to  find 
his  friend.  Dr.  Alexander,  now  residing  as  a  professor  in  the 
Theological  Seminary,  which  had  been  established  in  that 
place,)  and  after  attending  the  sessions  of  the  body,  and 
preaching  several  times  in  different  churches,  with  good  accep- 
tance, he  returned  home,  with  new  life  and  spirits,  to  his  charge. 

On  the  14th  of  September  following,  he  issued  the  first 
number  of  the  second  volume  of  the  Christian  Monitor, 
which  had  been  suspended  at  the  close  of  the  first,  on  the  29th 
of  June  preceding,  and  which  M'as  now  to  be  published  in  a 
new  and  improved  style;  coming  out  once  a  fortnight  in 
two  sheets  of  sixteen  pages  octavo,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
assuming  rather  more  of  a  literary  cast. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ. 

Richmond,  April  Sth,  1817. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  thank  you  for  your  last  and  all  your  former  communi- 
cations. 1  have  been  a  poor  correspondent  this  winter. 
My  wife  has  been  sick  all  the  time,  (as  the  Yankees  say,) 
my  servants  too — one  of  them  very  ill,  and  my  time  has 
been  exceedingly  occupied ;  so  that  my  friends  in  all  direc- 
tions have  had  some  reason  to  wonder  at  my  silence, 

I  was  much  pleased  with  your  scheme  of  a  Magazine; 
the  more  so,  because  it  coincided  pretty  exactly  with  one 


130  MEMOIR     OF 

of  my  own.  Our  brethren  are  not  so  active  in  this  busi- 
ness as  they  should  be.  It  is  thought  best  not  to  com- 
mence the  publication  until  the  year  of  the  Monitor  shall 
expire,  and  it  seems  to  be  thought  that  there  will  be 
nothing  to  be  done  but  at  once  to  commence  the  publication 
of  the  Magazine,  whereas  subscriptions  must  be  procured, 
contracts  made  for  paper,  &:c.  &c.,  which  will  require  con- 
siderable activity  to  bring  out  the  work  at  the  time  contem- 
plated. I  wish  that  some  more  spirit  could  be  infused  into 
Presbyterians  in  this  state.  We  are  getting  very  languid. 
The  excitement  which  appeared  to  have  been  raised  at 
Synod,  I  fear  has  subsided. 

I  get  very  little  help  for  the  Monitor.     I  wish  that  you 
would  employ  your  leisure  in  writing  something  for  it. 

I  write  in  very  great  haste,  and  can  only  add  messages  of 
affection,  which  I  wish  you  to  deliver  from  Mrs,  Rice  and 

myself,  to  Sister  Louisa,  Mrs.  R ,  and  all  Norfolk 

friends. 

Peace  be  with  you  all. 

Your  assured  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.D 

Richmond,  August  \Qth,  1817. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

It  would  be,  I  think,  a  very  great  advantage  to  the  in- 
terests of  religion,  if  we  could  procure  a  suitable  missionary 
to  itinerate  for  six  or  eight  months,  or  a  year,  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover.  If  such  a  one  as 
you  could  with  confidence  recommend,  would  come  on,  a 
few  of  us  would  guarrantee  the  payment  of  a  salary  equal 
to  that  allowed  by  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Mis- 
sions. We  wish  a  man  who  has  the  missionary  cause  much 
at  heart,  and  who  would  exert  himself  to  form  Missionary 
Associations  wherever  this  could  be  done.     I  believe  that 


DOCTOR     RICE.  131 

much  might  at  this  time  be  effected  for  the  cause  of  the 
destitute  in  our  own  country,  and  more  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  recently  estabhshed  in  New 
York.  I  believe  this  principally  because  of  the  deep  in- 
terest which  is  taken  in  the  affairs  of  South  America  by  the 
people  in  our  region.  Any  measure  that  would  promise  to 
emancipate  the  people  of  that  country  from  the  slavery  of 
superstition  and  Popish  jugglery,  would  take  greatly  among 
us.  There  are  several  other  important  matters  which  a 
missionary  officiating  as  we  wish  might  attend  to.  I  pray 
you  endeavour  to  send  us  one  of  the  right  stamp.  Be  so 
good  as  to  let  me  know  as  soon  as  you  can,  whether  you 
can  point  out  one  who  would  suit  this  climate.  In  the 
winter  we  would  place  him  at  Portsmouth,  or  in  some 
other  town,  and  give  him  quite  labour  enough  as  a  sta- 
tionary preacher;  and  during  the  rest  of  the  year  he  might 
ride  partly  in  the  lowlands,  and,  as  the  sickly  season 
should  advance,  up  the  country  among  the  mountains.  We 
have  this  scheme  very  greatly  at  heart,  and  look  to  you 
for  aid. 

Things  in  Richmond  go  on  very  much  in  the  old  way. 
AVe  of  this  house  love  you  and  yours  as  much  as  ever. 
My  brother  is  with  me.  He  is  very  well.  Sister  Martha 
and  the  child  are  gone  to  Rockbridge. 

Every  blessing  on  you  and  yours. 

As  ever, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  Dec.  31.s^,  1817. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  before  this  of  a  scheme  which 
we  have  in  view  of  publishing  a  monthly  magazine.  I  have 
intended  all  along  to  send  you  a  prospectus,  and  endeavour 
to  lay  your  talents  under  contribution.  Why  I  have  not 
before   now  made  this  communication,  I  can  hardly  tell: 


132  MEMOIR     OF 

only  every  hour  of  mine  has  its  full  employment.  I  am  very 
desirous  that  our  work  should  be  respectable  ;  and  more  so 
that  it  should  be  useful.  I  wish  to  make  it  a  fair  represen- 
tative of  tlie  principles,  talents,  and  piety  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  this  country.  Now,  will  not  you,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, with  all  the  feelings  of  a  Virginian  \tarm  in  your 
bosom,  afford  us  your  assistance?  If  you  will  write  a  piece 
once  a  month,  and  send  it  on  by  mail,  if  private  opportuni- 
ties fail,  I  will  very  willingly  pay  the  postage,  and  be  much 
obliged  to  you  for  your  labour,  as  will  be  many  a  Virginian 
besides.     I  hope  then  that  you  will  not  refuse  this  request. 

I  understand  that  the  Episcopal  brethren  are  greatly 
alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  our  magazine.  However  that 
may  be,  we  have  no  intention  of  kindling  the  flame  of  con- 
troversy. We  think  that  we  may  tell  what  Presbyterians 
believe,  and  why  they  believe  it,  without  attacking  others. 
And  this  is  all  that  we  propose,  as  far  as  our  work  shall  be 
peculiarly  Presbyterian.  This  is  hardly  the  era  for  religious 
controversy.  The  Bible  is  to  be  the  rallying  word  for  all 
christians,  and  he  who  does  most  to  turn  the  attention  of  the 
people  of  God  from  the  petty  matters  which  separate  true 
disciples,  to  the  great  work  of  promoting  the  kingdom  of  our 
Lord,  is  most  properly  employed. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  in  most  affectionate  remembrance  of  Mrs. 
Alexander  and  the  children,  with  yours  assuredly. 

John  H.  Rice. 

Will  you  try  to  enlist  the  zeal  and  talents  of  Dr.  Miller  in 
our  behalf?  We  want  the  aid  of  his  historical  knowledge. 
All  that  we  can  find  concerning  the  rise  and  progress  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  the  country,  will  furnish  very  accepta- 
ble matter  for  the  Magazine." 

On  the  first  of  January  of  the  following  year,  (1818,)  or 
shortly  afterwards,  he  issued  the  first  number  of  his  pro- 
posed periodical,  entitled  the  Virginia  Evangelical  and  Lite- 
rary Magazine,  in  a  handsome  pamphlet  of  forty-eight  pages 


DOCTOR     RICE.  133 

octavo,  to  be  continued  every  month ;  a  work  to  which  we 
shall  find  him  devoting  a  large  portion  of  his  time  and  atten- 
tion for  some  years  to  come ;  and  by  which  he  fondly  hoped 
that  he  should  render  the  most  important  services  to  the 
cause  of  religion,  and  letters,  and  all  that  was  good,  in  his 
native  state,  and  in  the  country  at  large.  The  design  of  it, 
indeed,  as  stated  in  his  "  Introduction,"  is  certainly  every 
way  and  altogether  as  fair  and  liberal  as  could  have  been 
wished. 

"  The  title  of  our  Magazine,"  says  he,  "  has  been  adopt- 
ed as  significative  of  our  purposes  and  feelings.  Disclaim- 
ing as  we  do,  all  local  prejudices,  and  acknowledging  the 
United  States  as  our  country,  we  confess  that  we  take  a  pe- 
culiarly lively  interest  in  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  that 
section  in  which  we  were  born  and  educated ;  and  therefore 
we  have  prefixed  the  name  Virginia  to  the  general  terms 
which  characterize  the  nature  of  our  work. 

"  Religion  is,  in  our  estimation,  a  subject  of  pre-eminent 
and  inexpressible  importance.  We  regard  it  as  connected 
with  our  personal  and  most  private  interests,  our  domestic 
enjoyments,  the  peace  of  society,  the  permanence  of  our 
happy  institutions,  and  the  everlasting  welfare  of  our  fellow 
men ;  and  we  therefore  feel  ourselves  bound  by  every  obliga- 
tion, to  promote  it  to  the  utmost  of  our  power." 

"  The  term  religion,  however,"  he  observes,  *'  has  been 
applied  to  the  worship  of  calves  and  crocodiles,  to  the 
mythological  fictions  of  Greece  and  Rome,  to  the  brutal  and 
fiendlike  service  of  Juggernaut,  to  the  bloody  superstitions 
of  Mahomet,  to  the  pompous  ritual  of  the  Roman  Catholics, 
and  to  the  simple  and  unadorned  observances  of  the  various 
classes  of  Protestants.  Hence  it  is  obvious  that  a  word  more 
undefined  and  vague  in  its  signification  could  hardly  be  used. 
Of  course,  we  have  chosen  to  express  ourselves  by  a  term  of 
much  less  latitude.  Our  Magazine,  therefore,  as  respects 
religion,  is   to  be  Evangelical ;  a  term  which,  (in  present 

13 


134  MEMOIR     OF 

usage)  designates  a  peculiar  class  of  sentiments,  and  system 
of  doctrines,  derived  from  the  holy  scriptures,  in  opposition 
to  other  systems  which  are  professedly  supported  by  the 
same  authority.  Of  this  system  the  principal  articles  are, 
1.  The  total  depravity  of  man.  2.  The  necessity  of  regenera- 
tion by  the  Holy  Spirit.  3.  Justification  by  faith  alone,  and 
4.  The  necessity  of  holiness  as  a  qualification  for  happi- 
ness." He  proceeds  to  state  that  in  maintaining  these  doc- 
trines, his  expositions  of  them  would  necessarily  be  modi- 
fied by  his  peculiar  views  as  a  christian  and  a  Presbyte- 
rian, calling  no  man  master  upon  earth,  and  bowing  to  no  au- 
thority but  that  of  God.  These,  however,  were  happily  of  the 
most  liberal  order  ;  for  the  standards  of  the  church  to  which 
he  belonged  expressly  recognised  all  christians  of  all  de- 
nominations who  held  the  fundamental  articles  of  the  chris- 
tian faith,  as  members  of  the  same  church  of  Christ.  Then 
as  to  the  subjects  of  difierence  which  might  be  introduced 
into  such  a  work,  no  apprehension  need  be  felt  of  any  polem- 
ical or  sectarian  spirit.  "  What  is  called  religious  contro- 
versy," says  he,  "  has  had  an  effect  so  disastrous,  that  we 
need  not  be  surprised  when  the  lovers  of  peace  protest 
against  it.  We  hold  it  in  abhorrence ;  yet  we  love  amicable 
discussion.  It  is  an  important  means  of  arriving  at  the 
truth ;  and  among  christians  is  admirably  calculated  to  pro- 
mote forbearance  and  charity." 

"  In  conducting  the  Literary  department  of  our  Journal," 
our  editor  continues,  "  we  shall  allow  ourselves  very  great 
latitude.  We  have  adopted  this  general  term  indeed  because 
no  better  occurred  ;  but  the  truth  is,  we  intend  that  our  Maga- 
zine shall  occasionally  serve  as  a  vehicle  of  valuable  essays 
on  Agriculture,  Inland  Navigation,  the  construction  of  Roads, 
the  great  concern  of  Schools,  and  whatever  our  correspon- 
dence will  furnish  for  the  promotion  of  Internal  Improve- 
ment. We  believe  that  the  enterprising  people  of  this  coun- 
try only  want  information  on  this  subject,  to  stir  them  up  to 
a  degree  of  zeal  and  activity  which  has  never  yet  been  wit- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  135 

nessed  among  us.  In  this  view,  we  not  only  freely  offer  our 
pages  for  communications  of  this  kind,  but  we  earnestly  en- 
treat those  who  possess  knowledge  to  impart  it  for  the  benefit 
of  their  country.  Our  limits  are  circumscribed.  We  are, 
however,  not  without  hope  that  we  shall  be  enabled  to  ex- 
tend them,  and  thus  afford  an  opportunity  to  the  pious  and 
enlightened,  the  theologian,  the  philosopher,  the  economist, 
and  the  man  of  letters,  to  diffuse  useful  knowledge  among 
his  fellow  citizens." 

"And  may  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  bless  these 
humble  efforts,  for  the  promotion  of  his  glory,  and  the  best 
interests  of  our  fellow  men." 

Such  was  the  idea  of  the  periodical  now  presented  to  the 
public,  a  little  too  broad  perhaps  in  its  plan,  but  altogether 
pure  and  admirable  in  its  spirit.  The  first  number  contained 
several  valuable  articles,  as  No.  1.  of  Essays  on  Divinity,  by 
Dr.  Hoge,  Reflections  on  the  New  Year,  by  Dr.  Mathews, 
No.  1.  of  Short  Discourses  for  families,  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Lyle  of  Prince  Edward,  a  Review  of  Mr.  Wirt's  Life  of 
Patrick  Henry,  and  some  others ;  with  several  columns  of 
religious  and  miscellaneous  intelligence;  and  was  well  re- 
ceived by  the  public,  who  regarded  it  as  the  first  sample 
of  a  very  promising  work. 


TO  MR.  JOHN  KELLY. 

Richmond,  January  I9th,  1818. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

The  box  of  books  of  which  the  inclosed  is  a  bill,  has  been 
lying  at  Higginbotham  and  Barrett's  almost  ever  since  I  last 
wrote  you.  I  was  very  much  surprised  the  other  day  to  find 
that  you  had  not  received  them.  I  can  only  say  that  the 
selection  is  as  good  a  one  as  I  could  make ;  and  the  terms 
are  such  as  I  hope  you  will  approve.  It  would  give  me 
very  great  pleasure  to  serve  you  in  any  way.     I  am  very 


136  MEMOIR     OF 

sorry  too  that  a  number  of  untoward  circumstances  has  so 
disappointed  you  in  this  business. 

With  respect  to  my  Magazine,  I  have  heard  from  various 
sources  that  it  has  been  condemned  without  a  hearing.  I 
really  do  not  know  how  people  have  acquired  the  faculty  of 
searching  my  heart,  and  seeing  so  long  beforehand  how  I 
mean  to  conduct  this  work.  If  any  one,  instead  of  deciding 
in  this  way,  wishes  to  know,  I  am  very  ready  to  inform. 
You  may  then  say  from  me,  that  it  is  our  purpose,  (for  I  can 
speak  of  all  who  have  any  concern  in  this  matter,)  to  discuss 
religious  subjects  in  a  way  which  will,  it  is  hoped,  promote 
knowledge  and  piety  among  the  people.  This  is  our  object. 
If  by  controversy  is  to  be  understood  attacks  against  other 
denominations,  it  is  denied  that  we  have  any  such  intention. 
The  Presbyterians  (and  they  stand  alone  in  this  thing,)  ac- 
knowledge in  their  Constitution  other  christians  as  brethren; 
and  for  nearly  eighty  years  that  they  have  been  inVirginia,  they 
have  had  no  controversy  with  any  people.  But  if  it  be  called 
controversy  to  state  to  the  world  what  2ve  believe,  and  ivhy 
we  believe  so,  then  the  name  must  be  given  to  our  work. 
But  surely  this  is  doing  no  harm.  It  is  exercising  a  right 
which  we  with  all  our  hearts  allow  to  others,  and  wish  them 
to  exercise.  Discussion  of  religious  truth  in  an  amicable 
way,  and  with  a  charitable  frame  of  spirit  towards  those  who 
differ  from  us,  and  in  language  affectionate  and  respectful,  is 
not  to  be  called  controversy  :  and  therefore  we  cast  off  the 
imputation.  Besides,  when  we  touch  upon  subjects  on 
which  christians  differ,  it  will  be  one  great  object  to  show  that, 
notwithstanding  this  difference,  they  may  and  ought  to  live 
in  fellowship  and  communion  with  each  other.  After  all, 
the  principal  part  of  our  work,  as  far  as  respects  religion,  will 
treat  of  those  subjects  on  which  there  is  a  professed  agree- 
ment among  all  evangelical  churches.  We  shall,  besides 
the  religious  department,  in  every  number  devote  several 
pages  to  the  interests  of  general  knowledge,  and  internal  im- 
provement ;  and  thus  endeavour  by  all  means  to  be  useful. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  137 

With  much  love  to  Mrs.  Kelly,  in  which  Mrs.  Rice  hear- 
tily joins  me,  I  am 

Dear  Sir,  yours  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  JOHN  KELLY. 

Bichmondy  Apnl  20th,  1818. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Surely  some  fatality  has  attended  the  books  which  I  have 
purchased  for  you.  I  trust,  however,  that  you  will  at 
length  receive  them ;  and  it  is  my  prayer  that  they  may  be 
abundantly  blessed  to  your  edification  and  spiritual  advan- 
tage. 

I  was  surprised  to  learn  by  Mr.  Wheeler,  that  you  had 
sent  the  names  of  nearly  a  dozen  subscribers  to  the  Maga- 
zine, when  I  have  not  received  any  except  yours  and  Mrs. 
Gilmer's.  My  great  object  in  this  business,  v/hich  is  one 
of  very  great  trouble  and  labour,  is,  if  I  do  not  deceive 
myself,  to  do  good.  I  trust  it  is  apparent,  that  although  it 
is  a  Presbyterian  work,  it  is  not  conducted  with  a  sectarian 
spirit.  Indeed,  a  history  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Virginia  will  serve  to  show  that  such  a  temper  does  not 
exist  in  that  body.  We  have  been  in  the  state  upwards  of 
seventy  years,  and  have  never  yet  carried  on  a  controversy ; 
have  never  attacked  any  other  society.  And  this,  surely, 
not  because  we  were  afraid  of  others;  for  such  men  as 
Davies,  Waddell,  the  Smiths,  Graham,  Alexander,  and 
Speece,  need  not  shrink  from  a  contest  in  argument  with 
men  of  any  other  society.  The  true  reason,  I  am  bold  to 
say,  is  because  the  temper  of  the  church  is  peaceful  and 
liberal.  We  acknowledge  others  who  do  not  differ  in 
undamental  points,  to  be  brethren;  we  are  ready  to  receive 
them,  and  commune  with  them  as  such.  And  as  for  the 
particular  society  to  which  any  one  may  choose  to  attach 
himself,  we  recommend  careful  examination,  and  then  a 
choice,  under  the  solemn  conviction  of  one's  own  mind. 

*13 


138  MEMOIR     OP 

I  never  knew  a  Presbyterian  minister  ask,  much  less  try  to 
persuade,  an  individual  to  be  a  Presbyterian,  in  my  life. 
Not  because  we  are  not  fully  persuaded  in  our  own  minds ; 
but  because  the  spirit  of  hunting  proselytes  is,  in  our  judg- 
ment, unworthy  of  a  christian  minister,  and  incompatible 
with  the  peace  of  the  Church. 

I  did  not  expect  to  have  written  so  much  on  this  subject, 
but  I  am  desirous  that  our  principles  should  be  fully  under- 
stood. We  wish  every  person  to  take  that  way  to  heaven 
which  he  can  travel  with  most  comfort,  and  in  which  he  can 
make  best  progress  in  holiness ;  for  after  all  there  is  but  one 
way,  one  church,  one  Saviour.  Peace  be  to  all  that  call  on 
the  Lord  Jesus  Chrisij  *^  both  their  Lord  and  ours,''''  says 
the  Apostle  Paul.  This  is  the  true  christian  spirit — God 
make  it  universal !  Peace  be  to  you  and  your  household — 
and  the  peace  of  Jesus  our  Lord  be  multiplied  to  you  and  all 
yours  !    Mrs.  Rice  joins  in  all  this  with  your  friend  in  Christ, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  JOHN  KELLY. 

Richmond,  May  14th,  1818. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  am  glad  that  your  books  have  at  last  been  received.  I 
am  sure  that  they  are  valuable,  because  I  have  read  them. 
Some  that  you  mentioned  in  your  list  were  not  to  be  had  at 
that  time.  I  took  the  liberty  of  putting  others  in  their  place, 
which  I  thought  would  assist  you  in  your  search  after  truth ; 
and,  by  the  divine  blessing,  serve  as  guides  in  the  way  to 
heaven. 

Without  the  divine  blessing,  I  know  that  no  means  will 
prove  effectual ;  and  therefore  I  pray  that  God's  holy  influ- 
ence may  accompany  the  perusal  of  these  books  by  yourself, 
and  your  family;  so  that  all  may  be  profited,  and  made  wise 
unto  salvation.  The  great  concern  of  all  is  first  to  get  reli- 
gion ;  and  then  to  improve  in  it ;  or,  to  use  apostolical  Ian- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  139 

guage.  to  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  May  this  be  the  happy  lot  of  you, 
and  me,  and  all  that  are  ours  ! 

I  thank  you  for  your  interest  in  the  Magazine.  It  needs 
the  prayers  of  all  who  love  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  Pray 
that  it  may  be  useful  in  promoting  truth  and  piety.  This  is 
its  great  object;  may  it  be  obtained.  Excuse  the  hurry  in 
which  I  write ;  and  accept  for  yourself  and  family  the  best 
wishes  of  Mrs.  Rice,  and  your  friend  in  Jesus, 

Jno.  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 
Richmond,  September  3d,  1818. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

We  shall  be  very  happy  to  see  Mr.  Post,  and  will  give  him 
all  the  support  in  our  power.  I  wish  that  you  could  send 
us  several  missionaries  more.  We  do  most  grievously  want 
them. 

I  have  just  seen  J B ,  from  St.  Louis.     Mrs. 

Rice  got  a  letter  from  Mrs.  T ,  by  him.     We  are 

thus  pretty  fully  informed  of  the  state  of  things  in  that 
rising  territory.  They  have  had  one  or  two  preachers  at 
St.  Louis,  who  did  not  suit  that  place.  One  shows  a  dis- 
position to  speculate,  another  wants  talents,  and  so  on. 
B says  that  the  interests  of  religion  imperiously  re- 
quire a  man  of  talents,  and  fervent  piety  there.  A  man  of 
this  description,  who  would  show  no  worldly  spirit,  but 
give  himself  wholly  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  would  be 
handsomely  supported. 

I  perfectly  agree  with  you  on  the  subject  of  local  feel- 
ing ;  but  the  ardour  of  my  attachment  to  Virginia  does  not 
lessen  my  mterest  for  the  cause  of  religion  in  any  other 
place.  1  often  pray  God  to  bless  the  Seminary  at  Prince- 
ton; and  that  at  Andover;  as  well  as  our  little  affair  at 
Hampden  Sydney. 


140  MEMOIR     OF 

I  am  very  desirous  to  draw  up  a  memoir  of  Mr.  Davies 
for  the  Magazine.  The  meagre  notices  that  have  been  pub- 
lished of  him,  are  no  credit  to  their  authors,  or  the  society 
of  which  he  was  an  ornament.  I  have  got  hold  of  some 
documents,  and  have  thought  that  it  was  not  yet  too  late  to 
atford  a  better  portrait  of  him  than  has  ever  yet  been  given. 
Can  you  lend  me  any  aid?  Perhaps  there  are  some  docu- 
ments about  Princeton.  Ask  Dr.  Miller  if  he  can  help  me 
to  any  thing." 

The  new  labour  of  writing  and  preparing  matter  for  the 
Magazine,  added  to  his  other  duties,  now  kept  him  pretty 
closely  confined  to  the  city  for  some  months.  He  still 
found  time,  however,  and  made  it  a  point  of  conscience,  to 
attend  the  judicatories  of  the  church,  wherever  they  might 
be  held ;  and  in  going  and  returning  on  these  occasions,  he 
would  usually  embrace,  or  make  opportunities  of  preaching 
by  the  way;  calling,  too,  most  commonly,  at  the  houses 
of  some  of  his  friends  on  the  road,  where  the  neigh- 
bours, or  perhaps  a  company  of  acquaintances  going  on  to 
the  meetings,  would  be  assembled,  to  hear  the  words  which 
he  would  now  speak  to  them,  and  in  strains  of  earnest  and 
affectionate  exhortation  that  could  hardly  be  excelled.  Ac- 
cordingly, in  the  following  fall,  we  find  him  leaving  Rich- 
mond to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Presbytery  and  Synod, 
which  were  about  to  be  held  successively  in  Lynchburg  and 
Staunton;  and,  thinking  now  of  his  Magazine  which  was 
always  in  his  mind,  he  kept  a  little  journal  of  his  tour, 
which  he  afterwards  wrote  out  into  what  he  called,  "  An 
Excursion  into  the  Country ;"  and  published,  on  his  return, 
in  that  work.  We  should  be  glad  to  give  our  readers  the 
whole  of  this  piece,  which  contains  some  very  pleasing 
sketches  of  men  and  things,  interspersed  with  many  valu- 
able reflections,  and  is  highly  characteristic ;  but  it  is  rather 
too  long  to  be  inserted  entire,  and  we  can  only  indulge 
ourselves  in  quoting  the  part  which  follows. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  141 

"  On  the  7th  of  October,  I  arrived  in  the  town  of  Lynch- 
burg, after  an  absence  from  it  of  nearly  three  years.  I 
was  astonished  at  the  changes  which,  during  this  period, 
had  been  made.  New  streets  opened,  new  buildings 
erected,  bustle  and  activity  in  every  direction,  showed  it  to 
be  a  place  of  considerable  and  growing  importance.  The 
business  part  of  the  town  lies  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  along  the 
margin  of  the  river,  quite  convenient  to  the  boat  navigation ; 
and  when  the  improvements  now  begun  shall  have  been 
completed,  it  will  be  neat,  agreeable,  and  sufficiently  hand- 
some. At  a  little  distance  from  the  river,  the  ground  is 
broken  into  hills,  which  aflbrd  various,  pleasant,  and  almost 
picturesque  prospects  to  the  beholder.  On  these  hills, 
quite  decent  houses  for  family  residence  are  rising  up  w^ith 
great  rapidity.  There  are  three  very  comfortable  brick 
churches  in  Lynchburg.  Whether  the  people  are  wise 
enough  to  attend  worship  regularly,  in  ordinary  times,  I 
had  not  the  means  to  determine.  All  that  I  can  say  is,  that 
two  or  three  sermons  were  preached  every  day  whilst  I  was 
there,  and  heard  by  great  numbers. 

*'  The  Presbytery  of  Hanover  met  in  Lynchburg,  the  day 
after  my  arrival.  I  think  that  I  have  never  attended  any 
meeting  with  more  pleasure.  Perfect  harmony  reigned  in 
the  whole  body:  the  same  spirit  seemed  to  be  breathed 
into  every  member;  and  even  when  differences  of  opinion 
arose,  those  men  seemed  to  differ  with  much  more  cor- 
diality and  kindness  than  are  manifested  in  the  agreement 
of  many. 

"  An  aged  clergyman,  who  attended  the  meeting,  particu- 
larly engaged  my  attention,  and,  I  may  say,  even  fascinated 
me.  He  had,  in  his  manner,  nothing  austere  nor  reserved ; 
but  seemed  accessible  and  communicative  to  every  one. 
All  stiffness  and  etiquette,  all  doctorial  dignity,  are  per- 
fectly foreign  to  his  nature  and  habits.  Every  thing  about 
him  is  plain,  simple,  and  unaffected.  The  tones  of  his 
voice  are  more  expressive  of  cordiality  and  perfect  good 


142  MEMOIR      OF 

will,  than  any  that  I  have  ever  heard.     His  eye  expresses 
the   deepest   tenderness.     The   whole  cast  of  his   counte- 
nance indicates    strong   intelligence.     His   perceptions  are 
quick  and  clear,  and  his  imagination  ever  ready  to  kindle 
into  a  blaze.     It  is  impossible  to  hear  him  speak  without 
being  convinced   of  his   absolute   sincerity.     His    style  is 
like   himself,   perfectly   plain   and   unadorned.     He   never 
uses  any  but  common  words,  put  together  in  their  most 
natural  order,  and  in  sentences  usually  very  short.     But  as 
these  words  express  the  conceptions  of  a  strong,  original 
thinker,  and  the  feelings  of  a  most  affectionate  and  tender 
heart,  they  seize  and  enchain  the  attention,  and  subdue  the 
hearts  of  his  hearers.    His  preaching  is  in  the  tone,  and  style, 
and  whole  manner  of  animated  conversation,  except  when 
occasionally  he  is  borne  away  by  his  feelings,  and  speaks 
too  loud  for  his  own  ease,  or  the  comfort  of  his  audience. 
In  fact,  this  is  the  only  thing  that  I  could  censure  in  his 
manner  of  speaking.     On   the   whole,  he  comes  near,  in 
many  respects,  to  my  idea  of  an  orator.     And  he  has  con- 
vinced me,  over  again,  that  simplicity  is  one  of  the  highest 
attributes  of  true  eloquence.     Involved  sentences,  unusual 
expressions,  the  fragments  of  splendid  metaphors  broken 
and  mixed  together   in   dazzling   confusion,   are,    since  I 
have  heard  this  venerable  preacher,  more  disgusting  than 
ever. 

"From  Lynchburg  I  took  my  departure,  in  excellent  com- 
pany, for  Staunton,  anticipating  a  pleasant  ride  over  the 
Blue  Ridge.  But  very  soon  the  clouds  began  to  gather 
and  sink  down  on  the  mountains;  the  rain  descended  in 
torrents,  and  roared  down  the  vallies.  It  is  a  remarkable 
fact,  that  when  one  has  the  prospect  of  a  comfortable  house, 
a  blazing  ingle,  and  a  good  bed  at  the  end  of  a  day's 
journey,  such  weather,  instead  of  producing  despondency, 
has  the  direct  contrary  effect.  There  were  five  or  six  in 
company,  more  than  half  of  them  ladies,  and  yet  I  have 
never  seen  people  more  cheerful.     By  the  way,  however, 


DOCTOR     RICE.  143 

I  would  never  advise  a  traveller,  who  has  ladies  in  com- 
pany, to  attempt  Rohinsoii's  Gap,  unless  he  has  time  to  get 
clear  of  the  mountains  before  night;  or  can  make  up  his 
mind  to  encamp  in  the  woods.  If  he  is  alone,  or  accom- 
panied only  by  two-legged,  unfeathered  bipeds  like  him- 
self, he  need  apprehend  a  want  of  nothing  that  kindness  and 
hospitality  can  afford.     But  verbum  sat. 

"  There  is  something  awfully  solemn  and  sublime  among 
the  mountains  in  a  stormy  day.     The  roar  of  the  winds,  and 
the  deafening  clamour  of  the  mountain  torrents ;  the  dark 
clouds  which  roll  down  the  lofty  precipices  and  suddenly 
involve  the  traveller  in  a  night  of  mist,  and  then,  struck  by 
the  wind,  flit  away ;  the  summits  of  the  mountains,  one  while 
shrouded  in  darkness  as  though  the  spirits  of  the  storm  were 
there  holding  their  secret  councils,  or  celebrating  orgies  not 
to  be  seen  by  mortal  eyes,  and  then  by  some  sudden  gust 
laid  bare,  with  their  naked  crags  frowning  above  you ;  the 
whole  field  of  vision  sometimes  limited  to  a  circle  of  a  few 
paces  in  diameter,  and  then  opened  so  as  to  include  vallies 
dressed  in  gay  livery,  and  farms  under  every  variety  of 
aspect ;   one   while  the   descent  into  a  litUe  vale,  rendered 
gloomy  by  the  overshadowing  pine  and  chesnut,  and  present- 
ly a  steep  ascent,  from  the  top  of  which  one  has,  through 
the  opening  clouds,  a  glimpse  of  a  pure  blue  sky  and  of  a 
radiant  sun,  reminding  him  of  the  transient  views  which 
good  men,  in  this  vale  of  tears,  have  of  the  heavenly  country 
to  which  they  are  journeying — all  these  objects  passing  in 
rapid  succession,  and  presenting  as  they  glide  before  the 
eyes  the  most  lofty  ideas,  make  the  whole  scene  most  per- 
fecdy  interesting  and  impressive.    The  wild  grandeur  of  the 
scenery,  the  majestic  forms  of  nature,  and  even  the  elemental 
war  which  rages  around,  dilate  the  conception,  and  enkin- 
dle the  heart  of  the  traveller.     He  almost  identifies  himself 
with  the  objects  about  him,  and  seems  to  partake  of  the  attri- 
butes with  which  they  are  invested.     If  he  is  imbued  with 
the  spirit  of  fervent  piety,  he  associates  with  these  scenes 


144  MEMOIR      OF 

ideas  of  God  his  mighty  maker,  hears  his  voice  in  the  storm, 
sees  his  chariots  in  the  rolling  clouds,  regards  the  mighty- 
winds  as  his  messengers,  and  though  drenched  in  rain,  and 
fatigued  with  labour,  finds  his  heart  burning  within  him ;  and 
pauses,  that  on  this  great  altar  of  nature,  he  may  adore  Him 
who  holds  the  winds  in  his  fist,  who  has  weighed  the  moun- 
tains with  scales,  and  the  hills  in  a  balance — who  sitteth  on 
the  circle  of  tlie  heavens,  and  sways  his  sceptre  over  all. 

"  Having  passed  the  mountains  in  safety,  though  not  with- 
out much  labour,  and  finding  no  public  house  where  we 
could  be  accommodated,  we  were  constrained  to  try  the  hos- 
pitality of  a  private  family,  and  had  no  reason  to  be  sorry 
for  the  necessity.     The  household  consisted  of  a   father, 
mother,  eight  or  ten  children,  and  three  or  four  domestics. 
It  was  not  easy  to  divine  how  they  made  out  to  pack  them- 
selves in  the  little  house  which  they  occupied — yet  every 
thing  afllbrded  to  us  was  in  excellent  plain  style ;  we  were 
entertained  with  a  cordiality  which  would  have  commended 
much  coarser  fare,  and  were  stowed  away  most  comfortably 
for  the  night.     It  was  really  curious  and  amusing  to  observe 
the  tokens  of  household  industry,  and  of  attention  to  mental 
improvement,  exhibited  here.     In  one  place  you  might  see 
a  large  map  suspended  on  the  wall,  and  next  to  it  a  propor- 
tionally large  bundle  of  hanks  of  yarn;   here  a  bookcase 
pretty  well  stored   with  useful  books,  and  there  a  pile  of 
counterpanes  and  bed-quilts ;  and  the  frame  of  a  fine  print 
of  a  distinguished  American  hero,  served  to  hold  up  skeins 
of  thread,  or  bunches  of  quills.     Now,  hov/ever  this  curi- 
ous intermixture  might  be  regarded  by  some,  the  tout  enserri' 
ble  was  altogether  pleasant  to  me,  because  associated  with 
the  ideas  of  industry,  or  economy,  simplicity  of  taste  and 
feeling,  and  of  that  regard  to  the  culture  of  the  mind  which 
ought  to  characterize,  and  which  ennobles  a  Virginia  farmer. 
"From  the  family  where  we  were  so  comfortably  enter- 
tained, and  which  we  regarded  as  a  very  favourable  specimen 
of  the  Cohees,  we  pursued  our  way,  to  the  south  of  Lexing- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  145 

ton,  down  the  delightful  valley,  lying  between  the  north  and 
south  mountains.  This  whole  country,  consisting  every 
where  of  small  hills,  and  narrow  vales,  possessing  a  tempe- 
rate climate,  and  a  \ery  fertile  soil,  abounding  in  copious 
springs,  and  bold  rivulets,  affords  the  finest  field  for  the  hand 
of  taste  that  is  opened  any  \Vhere  in  Virginia.  Scarcely  a 
tract  of  land  can  be  found  so  small,  that  it  does  not  afford  a 
beautiful  eminence  for  the  site  of  a  house,  a  fine  southern 
slope  for  a  garden,  and  a  brook  of  water  as  pure  as  the  dew 
of  heaven.  A  neat,  white,  cottage-built  house,  surrounded 
with  green  trees,  would  present  a  lovely  prospect  to  half  a 
dozen  different  plantations,  and  would  command  one  equally 
extensive.  At  present  almost  every  house  is  placed  near 
the  spring,  be  that  where  it  may.  And  sometimes  the 
position  is  curious  enough.  In  addition  to  this,  it  is  remark- 
able that  very  few  families  pay  any  considerable  attention 
to  gardening.  Yet  such  is  the  kindly  nature  of  the  soil;  so 
well  is  it  adapted  to  the  produce  of  vegetables,  and  many  of 
the  most  valuable  fruits,  that  industry  directed  in  this  way 
would  meet  with  a  most  ample  reward. 

"  It  is  gratifying,  however,  to  be  able  to  say,  that  the  people 
in  the  valley  afford  many  clear  indications  that  the  spirit  of 
improvement  is  among  them.  That  activity  and  economy 
for  which  they  have  long  deserved  and  received  commenda- 
tion, are  producing  their  proper  fruits.  Wealth  is  flowing 
into  the  valley.  Agriculture  is  improving,  A  love  of  read- 
ing increases  ;  and  every  thing  indicates  that  the  people  will, 
in  time,  use  the  facilities  afforded  by  nature,  and  make  their 
country  as  delightful  as  the  simple  taste  of  a  republican  can 
desire  it  to  be.  The  realizing  of  these  hopes  however  pre- 
supposes one  thing,  namely,  that  the  present  inhabitants, 
contented  with  their  happy  situation,  will  remain  where  they 
are.  The  spirit  of  emigration  may  make  sad  havoc  of  my 
speculations.  They  who  are  now  doing  well  may  wish  to 
do  better,  Ma/  is,  suddenly  to  groiv  rich;  and  may  sell  their 
pleasant  farms  to  Dutch  emigrants,  who  with  their  descend- 

14 


146  M  j:  M  O  I  R     O  F 

ants  for  another  century  will  probably  build  their  dwelling 
liouses  next  door  to  the  spring  house, 

"  The  record  of  the  incidents  of  this  day  (14  Oct.)  pre- 
sents something  like  a  map  of  human  life.     In  the  morning 
we  were  gay  and  cheerful,  amusing  ourselves  with  remarks 
on  the  country,  or  the  comparative  genius  and  habits  of  our 
countrymen,  and  a  thousand  things,  just  as  the  thoughts  of 
them  occurred,  anticipating  a  joyful  meeting  in  the  evening 
with  some  well  tried,  faithful,  and  beloved  friends ;  when 
suddenly,  as  the  flash  of  lightning  breaks  from  a  cloud,  we 
were  informed  of  the  almost  instantaneous  death  of  one  of 
the  choicest  of  these  friends,  and  one  of  the  most  valuable  of 
men, — the  Rev.  Samuel  Brown.  The  road  which  we  should 
travel,  led  by  the  house   in   which  he   was    accustomed  to 
preach  ;  and,  on  inquiring  for  it,  we  were  asked  if  we  were 
going   to   the  funeral!     Thus,  as   in  a  moment,  was  hope 
turned  into  deep  despondency,  and  gladness  of  heart  exchang- 
ed for  the  bitterness  of  sorrow.    We  journied  on  in  mournful 
silence,   interrupted  by  occasional  remarks,  which  showed 
our  unwillingness  to  believe  the  truth  of  what  had  been  an- 
nounced, and  how  reluctantly  hope  takes  her  flight  from  the 
human  bosom.     It  might  have  been  a  fainting  fit — an  apo- 
plectic stroke,  mistaken  for  the  invasion  of  death ;  and  still 
he  might  be  alive.     The  roads,  however,  trampled  by  mul- 
titudes of  horses,  all  directed  to  the  dwelling  of  our  friend, 
soon  dissipated  these  illusions  of  the  pleasing  deceiver,  and 
convinced  us  of  the  sad  reality.     Still,  however,  when  we 
arrived  at  the  church,  and  saw  the  people  assembling,  and 
the  pile  of  red  clay  (the  sure  indication  of  a  newly  opened 
grave)  thrown  up  m  the  church-yard,  it  seemed  as  though 
we    were    then,   for   the    first   time,    assured   that  Samuel 
Brown  was  dead.     Only  a  few  people  had  come  together  on 
our  arrival.     Some   in  small   groups  were  conversing  in  a 
low  tone  of  voice,  interrupted  by  frequent  and  bitter  sighs, 
and  showing  in  strong  terms  how  deeply  they  felt  their  loss. 
Others  whose  emotions  were  too  powerful  for  conversation, 


DOCTOR     RICE.  147 

Stood  apart,  and,  leaning  on  the  tombstones,  looked  like  pic- 
tures of  care.  Presently  the  sound  of  the  multitude  was 
heard.  They  came  on  in  great  crowds.  The  elders  of  the 
church  assisted  in  committing  the  body  to  the  gi-ave  ;  after 
which,  a  solemn  silence  interrupted  only  by  smothered  sobs, 
ensued  for  several  minutes.  The  widow  stood  at  the  head 
of  the  grave  surrounded  by  her  children,  exhibiting  signs  of 
unutterable  anguish,  yet  seeming  to  say,  "It  is  the  Lord,  let 
him  do  what  seemeth  unto  him  good."  After  a  little  time, 
on  a  signal  being  given,  some  young  men  began  to  fill  the 
grave.  The  first  clods  that  fell  on  the  coflfin  gave  forth  the 
most  mournful  sound  that  I  had  ever  heard.  At  that  moment 
of  agony,  the  chorister  of  the  congregation  was  asked  to  sing 
the  familar  hymn,  "  When  I  can  read  my  title  clear,"  to  a 
tune  known  to  be  a  favourite  of  the  deceased  minister.  The 
voice  of  the  chorister  faltered  so  that  it  required  several 
efforts  to  raise  the  tune ;  the  whole  congregation  attempted 
to  join  him;  but  at  first  the  sound  was  rather  a  scream  of 
anguish  than  music.  As  they  advanced,  however,  the  pre- 
cious truths  expressed  in  the  words  of  the  hymn  seemed  to 
enter  into  their  souls.  Their  voices  became  more  firm;  and 
while  their  eyes  streamed  with  tears,  their  countenances 
were  radiant  with  christian  hope,  and  the  singing  of  the  last 
stanza,  "  There  I  shall  bathe  my  weary  soul,"  was  like  a 
shout  of  triumph.  By  the  time  that  the  hymn  was  finished 
the  grave  was  closed,  and  the  congregation  in  solemn  silence 
retired  to  their  homes. 

"  We  lodged  that  night  with  one  of  the  members  of  the 
church.  The  family  seemed  bereaved,  as  though  the  head 
of  the  household  had  just  been  buried.  Every  allusion  to 
the  event,  too,  brought  forth  a  flood  of  tears.  I  could  not 
help  exclaiming,  *'  Behold  how  they  loved  him  !"  And  I 
thought  the  lamentations  of  fathers  and  mothers,  of  young 
men  and  maidens,  over  their  departed  Pastor,  a  more  eloquent 
and  aff'ecting  eulogium  than  oratory  with  all  its  pomp  and 


148  MEMOIR    OF 

pretensions  could  pronounce.  After  this,  I  shall  not  attempt  a 
panegyric.  Let  those  who  wish  to  know  the  character  of 
Samuel  Brown,  go  and  see  the  sod  thai  covers  his  body,  wet 
with  the  tears  of  his  congregation. 

"  On  the  15th  of  October  I  arrived  at  Staunton.  The  Synod 
of  Virginia  met  in  that  town  on  the  same  day.  A  Synod  is 
a  provincial  council.  According  to  the  constitution  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  this  council  meets  annually,  on  its  own 
adjournments;  and  is  composed  of  bishops  or  pastors,  and 
ruling  elders  or  presbyters.  Formerly  all  the  Presbyterians 
in  Virginia  were  embodied  under  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover, 
of  which  the  celebrated  Davies  was  the  founder.  Now  there 
is  a  Synod  in  the  state  made  up  of  four  Presbyteries,  Han- 
over, Lexington,  Winchester,  and  Abingdon.  Since  the  first 
organization  of  this  church  in  Virginia,  it  has  produced  a 
number  of  men  who  would  have  done  honour  to  any  society 
in  Christendom.  Davies  has  just  been  mentioned.  To  his 
name  may  be  added  those  of  Henry  Patillo,  Samuel  S.  Smith, 
John  B.  Smith,  William  Graham,  and  James  Waddell,  be- 
sides others  of  persons  recently  deceased,  or  now  living. 

*'  By  far  the  most  important  business  brought  before  the 
Synod  was  the  subject  of  the  Theological  Seminary.  This 
institution  languishes  not  a  little  for  the  want  of  funds,  and 
is  greatly  embarrassed  in  its  fiscal  operations  for  want  of  a 
charter.  As  far  as  I  could  judge,  some  of  the  members  of 
the  Synod  seem  to  despair  almost  of  placing  the  Seminary 
on  a  respectable  and  permanent  foundation  ;  and  perhaps  are 
disposed  to  throw  the  funds  already  raised,  and  all  that  may 
hereafter  be  collected,  into  the  institution  at  Princeton.  But 
the  majority  are  determined  that  they  won't  "  give  up  the 
ship."  This  determination,  however,  is  not  the  result  of 
blind  obstinacy,  but  seems  to  be  founded  on  the  following 
reasons. 

"  1.  Money  enough  for  purposes  of  education  has  been 
flowing  from  Virginia  into  other  states,  without  any  addition 
to  the  copious  stream. 


DOCTOR    RICE.  149 

*'  2.  It  will  be  for  the  honour  of  Virginia  to  have  in  it,  erect- 
ed and  endowed  by  the  liberality  of  some  of  its  citizens,  a 
Seminary  in  which  an  extensive  and  liberal  Theological 
education  can  be  obtained. 

"  3.  Men  educated  among  owrse/ves  are  better  suited  to  the 
habits  of  thinking  and  feeling  which  prevail  here,  and  in  the 
Southern  country  generally;  and  of  course  can  minister  to 
greater  acceptance  among  the  people. 

*' I  cannot  but  commend  the  perseverance  of  these  men, 
and  admit  the  validity  of  their  reasoning.  Notwithstand- 
ing their  embarrassments,  they  can  hold  all  the  money  that 
they  seem  likely  to  procure  in  any  very  short  time ;  and 
even  with  their  scanty  means  ihey  are  doing  great  good. 
Let  them  persevere,  and  their  object  will  finally  be  accom- 
plished. 

*'  While  in  Staunton,  T  experienced  the  kindness  of  the 
people  of  that  place,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  observing 
that  they  were  in  a  great  degree  attentive  to  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel  by  the  members  of  the  Synod.  The  Pres- 
byterians have  a  large  and  very  decent  house  of  worship  in 
the  town,  in  a  state  of  considerable  forwardness.  If  com- 
pleted in  the  style  in  which  it  is  begun,  it  will  do  great 
credit  to  the  public  spirit  of  the  citizens. 

*'  It  is  understood,  that  the  meeting  of  Synod  in  Staunton 
was  the  occasion  of  exciting  a  pretty  strong  religious 
feeling  among  some  at  least  of  the  people  there.  But  what 
the  result  has  been  we  have  not  yet  heard. 

"  On  taking  our  departure  from  the  kind  and  agreeable 
friends  in  this  place,  we  travelled  by  Waynesborough, 
over  the  mountain  at  Rock-fish  Gap,  and  by  Charlottesville. 

*'  So  many  have  seen  the  prospect,  which,  in  all  its  loveli- 
ness, breaks  upon  the  eye  of  the  traveller  when  on  the 
highest  declivity  of  the  mountain  at  this  Gap,  that  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  scene  is  unnecessary.  The  writer  of  this  has 
passed  that  way  more  than  twenty  times,  but  never  without 
a  pause  to  contemplate  the  beauties  which  here  crowd  on 

14* 


150  MEMOIROF 

the  vision.  There  is  nothing  of  that  wildness  of  desola- 
tion which  seems  to  forbid  the  approach  of  man,  but  the 
mountains  are  clothed  with  verdure  to  the  very  top,  while 
the  vallies  and  plains  give  sure  indications  that  the  husband- 
man there  rejoices  in  abundant  harvests,  and  bears  home 
the  spolia  opima  of  a  patriotic  farmer. 

"  The  day  after  leaving  Staunton,  we  passed  the  site  of 
the  Central  College.  It  was  not  in  my  nature  to  go  by,  with- 
out pausing  at  a  place  marked  out  as  the  seat  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Virginia;  and,  as  I  stood  in  front  of  the  buildings  already 
erected,  my  feelings  dictated  a  soliloquy  of  the  following 
import. 

"  This  is  a  beautiful  situation !  The  prospect  is  indeed  fine  ! 
The  plan  of  these  buildings  too,  as  far  as  it  is  developed,  is 
judicious,  and  does  credit  to  its  author.  The  extent  of  the 
outline  indicates  the  possession  of  considerable  pecuniary 
resources.  The  public  spirit  of  the  friends  of  this  institu- 
tion is  more  than  idle  talk.  Let  them  have  the  praise  that 
they  deserve.  But  the  public  spirit  of  Virginia  is  aroused. 
Thanks  to  those  who  gave  the  impulse !  And  thanks 
to  those  who  established  the  literary  fund!  But  this 
University  is  to  be  either  a  radiant  point,  from  which 
will  flow  streams  of  genial  light  into  all  parts  of  our 
country;  or  it  will  glare  on  the  land  with  baleful  and  malig- 
nant fires ;  or,  to  change  the  figure,  it  will  be  either  a  foun- 
tain of  living  waters  diffusing  health  and  vigour,  or  a 
poisoned  spring  spreading  disease  and  death.  Here  virtue 
will  exercise  her  gentle  svi^ay,  or  vice  will  erect  her  throne. 
Much  will  depend  on  the  habits  of  students  previously 
formed;  on  the  domestic  discipline  to  which  they  shall 
have  been  subjected  ;  and  much  on  the  internal  organization 
and  conduct  of  this  institution.  Will  those  M'ho  manage  its 
interests  have  wisdom  to  consider,  that  mere  knowledge  is 
not  sufficient  to  make  men  good  citizens  ?  That  one  may 
possess  the  abilities  of  an  angel,  and  be  a  fool ;  may  ex- 
plore every  field  of  human  science,  and  be  a  profligate! 


DOCTOR     RICE.  151 

Sound  principles  and  correct  habits  are  unspeakably  more 
important  than  genius  and  learning.  What,  then,  will  be  the 
moral  discipline  of  this  national  institution?  Will  its  alumni 
go  out  into  life  with  passions  inflamed  by  indulgence, 
and  with  hearts  hardened  and  minds  darkened  by  the  pride 
of  philosophy,  falsely  so  called ;  and  thus  be  prepared  to 
scatter  around  them  arrows,  firebrands,  and  death !  Or  will 
they,  after  years  of  laborious  study,  and  willing  subjec- 
tion to  wise  discipline,  appear  among  their  countrymen, 
modest,  humble,  unassuming,  pure,  benevolent,  and,  in  a 
word,  adorned  with  every  virtue,  as  well  as  trained  to  all 
sound  and  solid  learning  ?  These  are  questions  of  vital 
importance.  Verily,  there  is  an  awful  responsibility  resting 
on  those  to  whom  this  great  affair  is  entrusted.  Should 
they  commit  any  vital  errors,  they  will  entail  a  curse  on 
their  country  which  ages  cannot  remove.  But  should 
they  act  wisely,  no  words  can  adequately  express  the  extent 
of  the  benefit  which  they  will  confer. 

But  what  will  they  do  in  relation  to  the  delicate  and  im- 
portant subject  of  religion?  Will  an  attempt  be  made  to 
exclude  its  influences?  This  is  impossible.  Man  can  as 
soon  pull  the  moon  from  its  orbit,  as  alter  the  fundamental 
and  original  principles  of  his  nature,  as  to  free  himself  from 
the  influences  of  religion  in  some  form  or  other.  And  as 
so  surely  as  the  University  of  Virginia  shall  be  established, 
it  will,  in  a  short  time,  assume  a  decided  character  in  this 
respect — it  will  be  either  DeisticaU  or  Socinian,  or  Christian. 
It  will  be  utterly  in  vain  to  attempt  ihe  conduct  of  it  on 
general  principles  :  because  religion  strongly  seizes  on  the 
mind,  and  creates  a  most  powerful  interest  in  every  bosom  ; 
and  powerful  feelings  will  not  deal  in  heartless  generalities. 
These  remarks  are  founded  on  experiment.  They  are  sup- 
ported by  an  ample  induction.  Indeed  there  is  not  a  literary 
institution  of  any  note  in  the  world  that  has  not  a  decided 
character  in  reference  to  religion.  The  people  of  Virginia 
ought  to  know  this  ;  and  in  the  whole  plan  of  their  univer- 


152  MEMOIR     OP 

sity  have  reference  to  the  nature  of  man  as  a  religious  being. 
Should  it  finally  be  determined  to  exclude  Christianity,  the 
opinion  will  at  once  be  fixed  that  the  institution  is  infidel. 
Men  according  to  their  prejudices  will  aflix  to  it  different 
epithets.  Some  will  call  it  the  Socinian,  others  the  Deisti- 
cal,  or  Atheistical  University.  Christians  of  various  denomi- 
nations will  loudly  complain,  that,  although  they  are  citizens 
possessing  equal  rights  with  others,  and  equally  interested 
in  this  national  school,  their  money  is  appropriated  utterly 
contrary  to  their  wishes.  These  complaints  will  give  rise  to 
recriminations.  Warm  controversies  will  be  carried  on ; 
and,  under  the  excitement  produced  by  them,  opposition  in- 
stitutions will  be  erected  ;  and  the  energies  of  the  state, 
instead  of  being  concentrated  for  the  support  of  the  Univer- 
sity, will  be  divided  and  expended  on  several  subordinate 
establishments. 

*'  To  prevent  a  result  like  this,  is  the  object  in  publishing 
these  thoughts.  I  am  not  prepared  to  say  what  course  will 
be  the  best.  But  let  the  subject  be  discussed  ;  and  the  wis- 
dom of  Virginia  be  put  in  requisition  for  the  solution  of  this 
difficulty.  The  fundamental  laws  of  the  state  respecting  the 
freedom  of  religion  are  most  excellent,  most  salutary.  If 
any  laws  ever  deserved  to  be  like  those  of  the  Medes  and 
Persians,  unalterable,  these  are  the  laws.  Let  due  honour 
be  given  to  the  Legislators  who  enacted  them.  All  discus- 
sion, then,  must  proceed  on  the  principle  that  this  part  of  the 
constitution  is  not  to  be  changed.  At  the  same  time,  it  ought 
to  be  assumed  that  religion,  so  embodied  as  to  make  it  an 
efficient  practical  rule,  is  to  be  taught  in  our  schools.  The 
plan  humbly  suggested  is  to  allow  Jews,  Catholics,  Protest- 
ants, Episcopalians,  Methodists,  Baptists,  any  and  all  sects, 
if  they  shall  choose  to  exercise  the  privilege,  to  endow  pro- 
fessorships, and  nominate  their  respective  professors.  Let 
it  also  be  a  statute  of  the  University,  that  the  students  shall 
regularly  attend  divine  worship ;  but  in  what  form,  should  be 
left  to  the  direction  of  parents ;  or,  in  failure  of  this,  to  the 


DOCTOR     RICE.  153 

choice  of  the  students.  In  addition  to  this,  the  professors 
in  every  case,  must  be  men  of  the  utmost  purity  of  moral 
principle,  and  strictness  of  moral  conduct.  A  man  who  re- 
quires powerful  stimulants  to  put  him  up  to  the  best  of  his 
abilities  is  not  to  be  admitted  for  an  hour  within  the  walls 
of  the  University.  In  fact  none  is  to  be  allowed  to  hold  a 
place,  who  does  not  practically  adopt  that  wise  maxim  of  the 
ancients.  Maxima  reverentia  debetur  puero,'^ 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ. 

Richmond,  Januray  10/A,  1819. 
Dear  Friend, 

Your  affectionate  letter  came  to  hand,  and  was  greeted 
with  a  most  hearty  welcome.  I  thank  you  for  all  your 
kind  expressions,  and  with  true  Virginian  cordiality  recip- 
rocate every  good  wish. 

I  shall  lose  some  two  or  three  hundred  subscribers  to  the 
Magazine  at  the  close  of  this  year,  I  expect,  when  all  the 
returns  are  made  by  the  agents ;  and  shall  probably  not  get  as 
many  new  subscribers  in  their  places.  But  I  do  not  despair. 
I  shall  need  all  the  aid  that  you  can  afford ;  for  some  of  our 
brethren  on  whom  I  depended  much,  seem  to  be  getting 
remiss.     But  this  does  not  dishearten  me. 

While  some  complain,  I  receive  very  solid  testimonials 
from  men  whose  judgment  is  well  worth  regarding;  and  I 
hope  to  be  able  to  make  the  ensuing  volume  more  creditable, 
every  way,  than  the  first.  I  have  bought  a  little  fount  of 
Hebrew  and  Greek  type,  and  hope  to  show  the  world  that 
we  are  able  to  give  them  a  little  that  is  uncontaminated 
from  these  springs. 

I  want  you  here  in  Richmond  most  egregriously.  I  have 
purchased  a  printing  press ;  and  have  formed  a  little  com- 
pany for  carrying  on  the  machine.  The  capital  neces- 
sary to  commence  is  divided  into  eighteen  shares  of  one 
hundred  dollars.     The  press,  with  all  its  fixtures  of  type, 


154  MEMOIR      OP 

cases,  book-press,  &c.  &:c.,  cost  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  1 
have  gotten  seventeen  shares  of  the  stock  subscribed :  I  tak- 
ing five.  There  is  the  best  job  office  in  Virginia  attached  to 
the  aflfair;  and  it  is  calculated  that  this  will  yeld  a  product 
of  nearly  thirty  dollars  per  week.  The  Magazine  will  pay 
sixty  dollars  per  month.  And  these  two  items  will  pay  ex- 
penses, supposing  we  employ  four  hands.  But  four  hands 
will  be  able  to  do  just  twice  as  much  as  the  work  slated. 
I  shall  employ  them  then  in  printing  good  things  to  be  cir- 
culated through  the  country,  and  sold  to  the  best  advantage. 
The  object  is  to  promote  learning  and  religion.  What 
would  you  think  of  the  republication  of  Smith's  History  of 
Virginia  ? 

But  my  favourite  plan  is  to  publish  a  pamphleteer. 
Any  important  pamphlet  may  come  into  the  series.  But  at 
present  I  wish  several  numbers  thrown  into  circulation,  cal- 
culated to  answer  these  three  questions :  why  are  you  a 
Christian? — why  are  you  a  Protestant? — why  are  you  a 
Presbyterian?  The  pieces  should  touch  the  Deistical, 
Catholic,  Socinian,  Baptist,  Arminian,  and  Episcopal  contro- 
versies ;  but  all  in  the  genteelest,  and  most  brotherly  style. 
Pray  let  me  know  how  you  like  my  scheme.  I  am  per- 
suaded that  a  critical  time  in  our  state  is  approaching. 
Religion  is  to  triumph  before  long,  or  the  pestilence  of 
Socinianism  is  to  blast  us.  I  cannot  rest  in  peace  unless  I 
am  trying  to  do  good  to  my  utmost. 

Now  is  the  time  to  make  a  push.  The  friends  of  the 
University  are  alarmed.  They  fear  a  defeat;  and  dread 
Presbyterians  most  of  all.  1  have  seized  the  crisis;  gone 
in  among  the  Monticello-men,  and  assured  them  that  we 
are  so  far  from  opposition  that  we  rejoice  that  the  state  is 
about  to  support  learning  in  a  style  worthy  of  Virginia; 
that  so  far  from  being  opposed,  we  are  ready  to  give  all  our 
aid  in  the  establishment,  support,  and  proper  management 
of  such  an  institution ;  and  that  for  locality,  we  care  nothing 


DOCTOR      RICE.  155 

about  that,  or  at  least  very  little.     All  that  we  want  is  a 
good  University. 

My  representations  have  had  very  considerable  effect; 
and  I  hope  that  in  all  parts  of  the  state  the  brethren  will 
support  me.  We  shall  thus  gain  influence;  and  if  we 
know  how  to  use  it,  may  make  ourselves  to  be  felt  in  the 
University,  and  through  all  its  departments.  1  wish  you 
were  here. 

Your  assured  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 


TO  MRS.  JUDITH  M.  SMITH. 

Richmond,  Jan.  Wth,  1819. 
My  Beloved  Friend, 

I  am  more  embarrassed  than  usual  in  attempting  to  write 
to  you.  I  knew  so  well  the  worth  of  him  whom  God  hath 
removed,  and  so  fully  appreciate  the  loss,  that  ray  mind  is 
borne  down ;  and  I  do  not  know  what  to  express,  but  lamenta- 
tions and  sorrow.  Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  my  best  and  dear- 
est friends.  I  know  well  the  purity  of  his  motives,  and  the 
integrity  of  his  heart.  He  was  as  a  brother  to  me ;  as  such  I 
loved  him ;  and  his  memory  will  ever  be  cherished  by  me 
with  the  warmest  affection.  I,  too,  am  bereaved  by  this  dis- 
pensation ;  and  I  feel  it.  I  have  lost  a  friend  whose  place 
can  never  be  filled. 

But  1  do  not  murmur — No  !  it  is  the  Lord.  He  gave,  and 
he  hath  taken  away ;  and  it  is  all  in  infiinite  wisdom  and 
goodness.  I  can  have  no  doubt  as  to  the  place  to  which  my 
departed  friend  is  gone.  If  ever  I  knew  a  christian,  he  was 
one.  Not  a  wordy  professor ;  but  a  practical  believer — 
not  a  man  of  high  flights,  and  rapturous  feelings ;  but  one 
who  in  public  and  private  acted  on  religious  principle ;  who 
made  his  light  shine  around  him,  and  before  the  world 
adorned  his  profession.  Knowing  as  I  knew  him,  the  gos- 
pel does  not  allow  me  to  doubt  respecting  his  future  condi- 


156  MEMOIR     OF 

tion.    And  I  am  ready  at  all  times  to  apply  to  him  the  words 
of  the  poet, 

"  His  upward  flight  Philander  took, 


If  ever  soul  ascended.' 


Yes — he  now  rests  with  God,  and  beholds  his  face  in  peace. 
He  has  gone  to  join  those  who  went  before  him,  and  to  inhe- 
rit the  promises.  There  is  comfort  in  this.  Indeed  it  is  a 
great  consolation.  But  that  meekness,  and  gentleness,  and 
conscientiousness,  and  charity,  and  faith,  which  assure  us 
of  his  happiness,  serve  too  to  enhance  our  sorrow,  and  em- 
bitter his  loss.  Such  is  our  condition  in  this  world.  Our 
joys  are  mixed  with  fears,  and  our  very  consolations  suggest 
reasons  for  sorrow.  This  is  the  case  with  every  thing 
earthly.  No  object,  nor  being  in  the  universe,  can  afford 
unmingled  good  but  God.  He  is  all  perfect,  and  knows  no 
shadow  of  change.  Hence,  the  wisdom  of  habitually  look- 
ing to  him,  and  referring  every  thing  to  his  will.  "Even 
so.  Father,  for  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight,"  We  know  that 
what  God  does,  is  wisest  and  best  in  all  things.  It  is  his 
will  that  my  friend  should  be  taken  away ;  that  you  and 
your  children  should  be  bereaved  and  destitute.  We  know 
this  because  the  afflictive  event  has  taken  place.  To  His 
will  we  are  bound  to  submit.  But  that  we  in  our  weakness 
may  be  the  better  able  to  render  this  submission,  various 
most  condescending  and  gracious  declarations  are  made  in 
Scripture ;  and  made  in  the  kindest  and  most  appropriate 
manner.  For  instance,  "  I  will  be  a  father  to  the  fatherless, 
and  a  husband  to  the  widow." — "  Sorrow  not  as  those  who 
have  no  hope  ;  for  if  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose 
again,  even  so  them  also  that  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring 
with  him." — "  Whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth,  and 
scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth ;  and  this  for  our 
profit  that  we  may  be  made  partakers  of  his  holiness." — "  All 
things  shall  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God." — 
"  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee."    See  the  appro- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  157 

priateness  of  these  promises  ;  their  adaptation  to  the  feelings 
of  distress  that  alternately  have  sway  in  the  bosom  of  the 
afflicted.  So  you  feel  forsaken  and  destitute ;  and  is  this 
feeling  rendered  more  pungent  every  time  you  look  on  your 
children  ?  God  is  your  husband;  and  their  father.  Are 
you  borne  down  by  the  thought  that  he  whom  you  so  long 
loved,  and  with  whom  you  so  often  took  sweet  counsel,  is 
now  removed  from  your  sight?  He  sleeps  in  Jesus,  and 
God  watcheth  over  his  dust ;  and  he  will  bid  it  rise  invested 
with  the  glories  of  immortality;  and  you  shall  see  him 
again.  Do  you  sometimes  almost  sink  under  the  idea,  "  This 
affliction  has  come  because  1  was  unworthy  to  enjoy  such 
a  blessing  any  longer;  and  the  Lord  in  righteous  judgment 
has  bereaved  me."  Remember  that  God  thus  dealeth  with 
you  as  a  child ;  that  this  is  for  your  profit.  (See  Heb.  xii. 
1  — 12.)  Are  you  ready  in  deep  despondency  to  say,  "  Now 
I  and  my  children  are  ruined."  God  says  that  these  afflic- 
tions shall  work  for  your  good ;  shall  "  work  out  for  you  a 
far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory."  Do  you 
look  forward  to  the  new  duties  imposed  on  you;  to  the  new 
labours  that  you  have  to  undergo  ;  to  the  new  trials  that  you 
must  sustain ;  and,  conscious  of  your  weakness,  do  you  say, 
"  I  shall  never  be  able  to  sustain  all  this."  Think  of  the 
promise  of  God,  "  As  thy  day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength  be;" 
and,  "  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee."  What  won- 
derful knowledge  of  the  exercises  of  our  afflicted  hearts, 
seems  to  be  in  the  Scriptures !  How  graciously  are  they 
adapted  to  our  condition !  How  accommodated  to  our  weak- 
ness I     How  suited  to  give  us  consolation ! 

There  is  another  view  which  it  is  important  that  we  should 
take.  Every  condition  in  life  has  its  duties.  The  active 
discharge  of  duties  is  as  necessary  for  our  present  peace,  as 
for  our  future  felicity.  One  of  the  divine  promises,  is,  to 
communicate  new  vigour  to  the  sick,  debilitated,  and  borne 
down  by  affliction;  that  they  may  be  better  prepared  for  the 
discharge  of  duty.     A  person,  then,  who  in  affliction,  looks 

15 


158  MEMOIR     OF 

to  God,  and  relies  on  him  for  grace  to  fulfil  duty,  is  the  only- 
person  who  has  a  right  to  expect  that  the  promises  will  be 
fulfilled  ;  because  it  is  to  such  alone  that  they  are  made.  If 
at  any  time  we  are  so  placed,  that  our  only  duty  is  to  bear 
suffering  with  patient  submission,  then  in  doing  that  we 
may  expect  God  to  be  with  us.  But  when  active  service, 
as  well  as  submissive  endurance,  is  required,  then  our  daily 
endeavour  must  be  to  do  as  much  as  we  can,  as  well  as  suffer 
as  patiently  as  we  can.  I  offer  these  remarks,  because  they 
have  an  important  bearing  on  your  present  state,  and  because 
I  know  the  pain  produced  by  making  efforts  when  we  are 
deeply  afflicted. 

I  greatly  regret  that  I  was  not  with  you  in  your  time  of 
affliction.  The  accounts  received  by  us  were  not  such  as  to 
induce  apprehension  of  any  immediate  danger.  Had  I  known 
the  truth  of  the  case,  I  would  have  broken  through  every 
other  engagement ;  and  had  at  least  one  more  interview  with 
my  much-loved,  well-tried,  and  faithful  friend. 

We  intend  as  soon  as  possible  to  visit  you.  At  the  same 
time,  we  pray  you  to  believe  that  we  love  you  with  increased 
affection,  and  feel  a  double  interest  in  all  that  concerns  you 
and  your  children.  May  the  God  of  all  grace  and  consola- 
tion be  with  you  to  keep  and  sustain  you,  to  guide  you  in 
all  your  ways,  and  uphold  you  in  all  future  trials, — and  at 
last,  may  you  join  those  who  have  gone  before  you,  and  who 
now  inherit  the  promises. 

Give  my  best  love  to  dear  Mary,  and  the  other  children. 
May  the  God  of  their  father  be  their  God  and  guide  ! 

Nancy  joins  me  in  all  that  I  say  and  feel  in  relation  to  you 
and  yours,  as  well  as  in  the  renewed  declaration  of  the  in- 
creasing affection  of  ever  most  truly  yours. 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  159 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER^  D.  D. 

Richmond,  Feb.  4th,  1819. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  lately  received  two  or  three  circulars  respecting  an 
"  Education  Society  for  the  Presbyterian  Church,"  which 
have  given  me  much  uneasiness.  I  perceive  that  there  is  a 
division  on  this  subject,  and  fear  that  it  will  lead  to  unhappy 
results.  I  should  be  very  glad  to  hear  a  candid  and  impar- 
tial statement  of  the  affair,  and  to  hear  it  soon,  for  I  perceive 
that  much  industry  is  employed  in  attempting  at  least  to 
secure  partizans.  One  thing  is  certain,  that  we  of  Virginia 
will  cleave  to  the  General  Assembly  to  the  very  last.  For 
we  regard  that  body  as  the  great  bond  of  union  in  our  church. 
Another  thing  too  is  certain.  Although  we  have  been  en- 
deavouring, and  still  are  in  a  feeble  way  endeavouring  to 
build  up  a  Theological  Seminary  for  the  South ;  we  are  not 
indifferent  to  the  success  of  Princeton.  On  the  contrary,  in 
any  collision  of  interest  between  that  and  another,  we  shall 
cleave  to  Princeton  with  all  our  hearts,  and  afford  support  to 
the  extent  of  our  abilities.  This  is  my  feeling  most  de- 
cidedly. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  Mr.  Post  is  pro- 
ducing a  great  sensation  in  the  part  of  the  country  where  he 
labours.  He  is  much  admired  by  the  most  enlightened  peo- 
ple.    I  received  a  letter  not  long  ago  from  Gen.  C ,  in 

which  he  mentioned  that  having  heard  him  once,  he  rode 
fifteen  miles  to  hear  him  again.  The  people  near  Milton 
are  very  anxious  that  he  should  settle  among  them,  and  I 
wish  that  he  would.  Albemarle  isnow  the  most  important 
part  of  our  country,  as  the  University  of  Virginia  is  located 
there.  I  do  want  a  good  Presbyterian  of  suitable  talents 
placed  there  very  much. 

When  Chester  was  here  the  other  day,  he  gave  me  the  3d 
Annual  Report  of  the  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  of 
New  York.    I  read  it  with  much  interest.    Chester  preached 


160  MEMOIR     OF 

at  an  evening  meeting  for  us,  and  a  number  of  young  men 
were  present.  While  he  was  preaching,  I  felt  in  my  pocket 
for  my  handkerchief,  and  took  hold  of  this  report.  At  once 
the  thought  rushed  into  my  mind — I  will  try  when  Chester 
is  done  if  the  young  men  here  can  be  roused  to  any  feeling 
on  the  subject  of  establishing  a  Missionary  Society.  As 
soon  as  the  preacher  closed,  I  rose  and  delivered  an  address. 
It  set  Chester  in  a  flame — several  young  men  were  kindled 
by  it.  The  result  was  that  a  Society  has  been  organized, 
denominated  the  "  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  of 
Richmond."  It  consists  now  of  about  forty  members.  The 
officers  are  all  such  young  men  as  I  approved.  The  Society 
is  auxiliary  to  the  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  of  New 
York,  and  looks  to  Princeton  for  Missionaries.  The  sum  of 
five  dollars  is  to  be  contributed  annually  by  the  members.  I 
hope  that  you  will  favour  the  institution  as  you  may  have  it  in 
your  power.  We  regard  it  as  an  event  of  some  consequence, 
in  as  much  as  we  hope  that  the  example  will  be  followed  in 
Norfolk,  Petersburg,  and  Fredericksburg,  and  that  these 
several  institutions  connected  with  a  society  as  respectable 
and  orthodox  as  that  of  New  York,  will  help  to  bind  to- 
gether diffisrent  parts  of  the  church  by  new  ties  ;  at  the  same 
time  that  means  of  sending  the  gospel  to  the  destitute  will  be 
enlarged. 

I  was  surprised  to  learn  from  Mr.  Chester,  that  an  opinion 
is  afloat  that  I  am  prejudiced  against  Princeton.  Nothing 
can  be  further  from  truth.  I  should  rejoice  to  see  it  pros- 
per, and  do  most  earnestly  pray  God  to  smile  upon  it,  as  I 
do  that  he  may  abundantly  bless  you  and  all  yours;  in  which 
I  am  joined  by  Mrs.  Rice. 

Yours  most  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  161 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  SMITH. 

Richmond,  Feb.  22d,  1819. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  received  your  last  most  acceptable  letter  in  due  time ; 
and  should  have  answered  it  before  now ;  but  I  have  been 
unusually  borne  down  with  business,  and  at  the  same  time 
have  been  poorly  in  health,  so  as  to  be  scarcely  able  to  do 
what  was  imperatively  demanded  from  day  to  day. 

If  Providence  permit,  I  shall  be  at  your  house  at  the  time 
appointed,  that  is,  on  the  second  Thursday  in  March,  (11th) 
and  of  this  I  presume  that  notice  would  be  given,  on  the 
strength  of  what  had  before  passed.  We  have  sent  word  to 
our  friends  in  Prince  Edward. 

Your  feelings  in  relation  to  him  of  whom  you  have  been 
bereaved,  are  natural  and  just.  He  was  a  man  of  most  un- 
common excellence  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  but  his  domes- 
tic virtues  shone  with  peculiar  lustre.  And  while  his  whole 
county  and  the  wide  circle  of  his  friends  will  miss  him 
much,  and  regret  him  long,  his  removal  will  of  course  be 
chiefly  mourned  among  those  to  whom  he  was  all  that  could 
be  asked  or  wished  in  a  husband,  a  father,  and  a  master. 
But  he  has  left  behind  much  that  we  who  loved  him  may 
well  prize.  He  has  left  a  good  name,  and  a  fair  example, 
and  a  legacy  of  prayers,  worth  more  than  the  treasures  of 
Egypt.  The  remembrance  of  these  is  before  his  God,  and 
He  whose  memorial  in  every  generation  is  that  he  hears 
prayer,  wdll  return  these  petitions  in  blessings  on  the  heads 
of  those  for  whom  they  were  offered.  These  blessings  will 
come  in  the  way,  however,  that  seems  best  unto  the  Lord. 
You  know,  as  well  as  I  can  tell  you,  that  we  are  not  to  pre- 
scribe to  him.  The  infinite  wisdom  of  God  sees  best  how 
to  deal  with  us;  and  his  mercy  and  goodness  are  always  di- 
rected by  his  wisdom.  Our  weakness  and  ignorance  are 
very  apt  to  mislead  us,  and  we  wish  and  ask  for  things  that 
would  do  us  harm ;  but  God  gives  according  to  his  own  pur- 
15* 


162  MKMOIROF 

poses,  and  in  his  own  way.  Oh !  for  hearts  of  absolute  sub- 
mission to  his  will.  There  is  nothing,  my  beloved  friend, 
which  we  ought  so  much  to  desire  as  this  blessing.  I 
know  the  weakness  of  human  nature,  and  how  hard  it  is 
for  us  to  submit.  But  this  is  our  comfort,  that  all  needed 
grace  is  promised  and  provided  for  us,  and  we  have  a  High 
Priest  that  is  touched  with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities,  and 
was  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are.  So  that,  un- 
worthy as  we  are,  we  may  go  boldly  to  the  throne  of  grace 
to  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  us  in  time  of  need. 
There  may  we  continually  be  found,  for  that  is  the  place 
that  becomes  such  poor,  dependant,  sinful  creatures  as  we 
are.  Thanks  be  to  God  that  a  throne  of  grace  is  erected, 
and  that  we  have  access  to  it  through  a  Mediator! 

My  best  love  to  Mary  and  all  the  dear  children.  May 
the  blessings  of  the  covenant  be  on  them,  and  may  grace, 
mercy,  and  peace  be  multiplied  to  you  all.  Nancy  and 
Harriet  join  in  best  love  to  you  all,  with  your  affectionate, 
sympathising  friend, 

J.  H.  Rice. 

TO  MASTER  WILLIAM  L.  SMITH.* 

JRichmondj  March  26th,  1819. 
Dear  William, 

When  I  was  at  Montrose,  I  was  much  pleased  to  observe 
that  you  have  a  heart  to  feel  the  loss  that  you  have  sus- 
tained; and  that  you  are  so  affectionate  and  attentive  to 
your  good  mother.     This  has  raised  you  in  my  esteem. 

You  may  in  many  ways  be  a  great  comfort  to  you  sur- 
viving parent;  and  if  you  will  use  the  proper  exertions, 
you  may  be  of  great  utility  about  the  house  and  on  the 
plantation.  I  know  that  you  are  young  and  inexperienced; 
that  many  things  will  be  forgotten  by  you,  and  in  many 
instances  you   will  feel  awkward.     But  you  must  not  be 

*  A  boy  about  twelve  years  old. 


DOCTORRICE.  163 

discouraged.  Learn  to  think  and  inquire  what  is  necessary 
to  be  done,  and  in  what  way  it  is  best  to  do  it.  Let  it  be 
your  great  study  to  be  useful.  And  for  this  purpose  en- 
deavour with  all  your  might  to  improve  your  mind.  Boys 
of  your  age  I  know  are  very  fond  of  play ;  but  you  have 
something  of  more  importance  to  occupy  your  time  and 
attention.  Your  dear  mother  is  a  widow,  and  you  are  her 
oldest  son.  Never  for  a  moment  forget  what  you  owe  to 
so  good  and  so  afflicted  a  parent.  Your  dear  father  was 
left,  when  he  was  young,  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the 
family,  and  he  acted  so  as  to  gain  great  credit.  He  was 
one  of  the  best  of  men.  Every  body  loved  him ;  and  even 
the  wicked  respected  him.  That  was  because  he  was  so 
good  a  man.  Even  bad  people  respect  goodness  and  des- 
pise the  wicked.  Let  it  be  your  great  business  then  to  im- 
prove your  heart.  Your  father  was  a  christian;  and  he 
showed  it  in  all  his  conduct.  You  cannot  imitate  a  better 
example.  Now  is  your  best  time  to  engage  in  the  service 
of  God.  If  you  put  it  off,  it  will  be  more  difficult  here- 
after. By  engaging  in  religion,  you  will  be  sure  of  the 
blessing  of  God.  He  will  direct  you,  and  enable  you  to  be 
useful.  Besides,  you  will  find  more  real  pleasure  in  reli- 
gion than  thoughtless  boys  do  in  all  their  sports  and  plays. 
My  advice  then  is  given  in  the  words  of  scripture,  "  Re- 
member your  Creator  in  the  days  of  your  youth."  Be  a 
comfort  to  your  mother,  and  an  example  to  the  other 
children. 

I  love  all  the  family  with  very  great  affection.  I  pray 
to  God  to  bless  you  all.  Femember  me  affectionately  to 
every  one.  Tell  your  mamma  that  I  will  write  to  her 
soon.  I  would  write  now,  but  it  is  midnight,  and  I  am 
very  tired. 

I  am  your  sincere  friend, 

John  H.  Rice, 


164  MEMOIROF 


TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  Ajwil  I3th,  1819. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

The  situation  of  Virginia  is  daily  becoming  more  inter- 
esting to  Presbyterians.  The  people  below  the  mountains 
are  becoming  more  accessible  to  us.  Prejudices  are  yield- 
ing, and,  in  some  instances,  complacency  is  taking  their 
place. 

Our  Hanover  Society,  auxiliary  to  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions, has  done  well  this  year.  We  have  employed  mis- 
sionary labours  to  the  amount  of  twenty-two  months,  but 
have  not  been  able  at  all  to  satisfy  the  demand.  In  fact,  it 
is  greatly  increased.  And  we  are  solicited  on  every  side 
to  send  missionaries.  Franklin,  Pittsylvania,  Lunenburg, 
Nottoway,  Surrey,  Prince  George,  Princess  Anne,  Charles 
City,  New  Kent,  Louisa,  Orange,  Albemarle,  Fluvanna, 
Buckingham,  Nelson,  and  Amherst,  all  loudly  call  for,  and 
eagerly  expect  missionary  labours.  The  prospect  of  pay- 
ing for  these  is  encouraging.  Missionary  associations  are 
increasing.  A  society  has  just  sprung  up  in  Norfolk,  one 
in  Mecklenburg,  two  associations  in  Albemarle,  one  in 
Buckingham,  one  in  Fluvanna,  one  in  Lynchburg,  two  in 
Bedford,  all  organized  within  about  a  year. 

But  where  shall  we  get  missionaries?  The  Young 
Men's  Society  of  Richmond  is  most  eager  to  employ  some 
zealous,  popular  young  man ;  if  it  were  but  for  a  month. 
They  think,  and  have  reason  for  it,  that  could  they  let  the 
people  of  Richmond  see  such  an  one  engaged  heartily  in 
their  service,  going  from  house  to  house,  among  the  poorest 
and  most  profligate,  carrying  the  warnings  and  invitations 
of  the  gospel,  it  would  at  once  establish  the  association  in 
the  favour  of  the  public,  and  give  assurance  of  very  en- 
larged means  for  prosecuting  the  charity  in  which  they  are 
engaged.  Can  you  not  afford  some  aid  to  them  in  their 
laudable    design?      Their   movements    have   already   pro- 


DOCTOR      RICE.  165 

duced  considerable  sensation  through  the  state.  They 
gave  the  impulse  to  Norfolk  and  Alexandria.  I  have  pro- 
mised to  plead  their  cause  with  you,  and  in  their  name  en- 
treat that  you  would  exert  your  influence  in  sending  them  a 
missionary." 

Some  time  in  May  following,  having  been  appointed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  a  delegate  to  the  General  As- 
sembly, he  repaired  to  Philadelphia,  to  attend  the  sessions 
of  that  body;  when  he  was  very  honourably  elected  the 
Moderator  of  it;  and,  we  are  told,  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  chair  in  a  manner  that  gave  great  satisfaction  to  all  the 
members.  This,  of  course,  made  him  more  generally 
known  to  his  brethren  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  and 
very  naturally  increased  his  reputation  and  influence  among 
them ;  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  elevated  position  which 
he  now  occupied,  served  to  give  him  a  more  extensive  view 
of  the  growing  interests  of  the  church,  whose  prosperity 
was  always  most  justly  dear  to  his  heart. 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  M.  SMITH. 

Richmond.,  July  6th,  1819. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  am  heartily  disposed  to  write  to  you  frequenfly ;  but  1 
really  find  it  out  of  my  power.  And  when  I  do  sit  down  to 
chat  a  little  with  a  friend  in  this  way,  I  am  generally  so  hur- 
ried that  I  am  incapable  of  saying  any  thing  worthy  of  atten- 
tion. 

We  had  a  most  delightful  excursion  to  the  North.  I  never 
saw  as  large  an  assembly  of  preachers  on  any  other  occasion  ; 
and  they  brought  up  many  encouraging  reports  respecting 
the  prevalence  of  religion.  I  suppose  that  probably  not 
fewer  than  ten  thousand  souls  were  added  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  during  the  last  year.  This  trip  has  considerably 
enlarged  my  ideas  of  the  growing  influence  of  this  society  in 
our  country.     It  will,  should  no  unforeseen  disaster  occur. 


166  MEMOIR     OF 

be  the  prevalent  religion  of  the  land.  I  rejoice  in  this,  be- 
cause I  do  verily  believe  that  it  is  the  church  nearest  to  the 
primitive  model.  But  I  hope  that  I  have  a  higher  wish  than 
even  this,  namely,  that  true  piety  may  prevail  in  all  our  bor- 
ders. Religion  is  the  glory  and  safety  of  our  land.  May  it 
triumph  over  all  opposition  ! 

I  expect  next  week  to  be  at  your  house  on  my  way  to 
Presbytery.  And  I  give  you  notice  to  prepare  yourself  for 
a  little  excursion  with  me.  I  shall  be  in  the  gig  alone,  (a 
very  easy  one,)  and  I  am  resolved  to  take  none  of  the  girls 
with  me,  simply  that  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  your  com- 
pany up  and  back  again.  And  now,  my  dear  friend,  I  insist 
on  it  that  you  do  not  begin  to  say,  "  There  is  a  lion  in  the 
way,  there  is  a  lion  in  the  way,"  and  conjure  up  difficulties. 
But  think  of  the  duty  of  taking  care  of  your  health,  and  of 
the  pleasures  and  privileges  of  God's  house,  and  of  joining 
in  communion  with  his  people,  and  make  the  necessary 
arrangements  to  go  with  me.  By  the  way,  you  ought  in 
justice  to  know,  that  this  excellent  idea  was  suggested  by  my 
excellent  wife.  She  cannot  travel  with  me  this  time,  and 
she  wished  me  to  enjoy  the  next  greatest  pleasure  that  I 
could  have  in  a  companion,  and  proposed  that  you  should  go 
with  me.  How  much  she  loves  you,  nobody  knows  but  I ; 
and  I  am  unable  to  tell  you.  She  desires  me  to  say  that  she 
intended  to  write  to  you  by  Major  Morton,  but  a  crowd  of 
company  prevented. 

She  unites  with  me  in  most  affectionate  regards  to  you, 
our  dear  Mary,  and  all  the  children,  and  in  prayer  that  the 
husband  of  the  widow,  and  father  of  the  fatherless,  may 
abundantly  bless  you  and  your  little  ones. 

I  am  most  truly  your  friend. 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  167 

TO  THE  REV.  THOMAS  CHALMERS,  D.  D. 

Bichmo?idf  Va.,  Aug.  14//t,  1819. 
Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

A  direct  conveyance  offers  from  this  place  to  Glasgow, 
and  I  eagerly  embrace  the  opportunity  which  it  presents 
of  communicating  to  you  on  a  subject  in  which  I  take  a 
very  lively  interest. 

You  will  receive  with  this  several  pamphlets,  and  among 
them  several  extracts  from  the  minutes  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of 
America,  for  1819. 

I  refer  you  to  the  passage  marked  on  page  158  of  this 
pamphlet  for  the  object  of  this  letter. 

In  considering  the  signs  of  the  times,  it  has  appeared  to 
me  that  if  in  any  one  thing  the  intimations  of  heaven  are 
more  prominent  and  decisive  than  in  all  others,  it  is  in  the 
favour  shown  to  the  united  efforts  of  christians  to  promote 
true  religion.  Protestants  of  different  denominations  en- 
deavoured for  ages  to  sustain  and  advance  the  truth  by  con- 
troversy ;  and  they  had  well  nigh  disputed  vital  religion  out 
of  the  world.  Within  the  last  twenty-five  years,  they  have 
combined  in  various  associations,  such  as  Bible  and  Mis- 
sionary Societies,  for  the  promotion  of  Christianity,  and  now 
the  word  of  God  is  going  forth  into  all  the  world  ;  and  while 
evangelical  piety  is  growing  among  Christians,  Heathens, 
Mahometans,  and  Jews,  are  gathering  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 
It  is  by  the  zealous  co-operation  of  Christians  that  the  glo- 
rious things  foretold  in  the  Bible  are  to  be  accomplished. 
The  Romish  church  brings  all  its  energies  to  bear  on  any 
point  sufficiently  important  to  call  them  forth.  Cannot  Pro- 
testants devise  some  means  by  which  their  united  strength 
may  be  employed  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  great  pur- 
poses and  plans  undertaken  in  the  present  day?  Have  not 
Christians  in  this  age  given  a  pledge  that  they  will  neglect 


168  MEMOIR     OF 

110  measures  within  the  compass  of  their  ability,  to  make 
known  the  saving  health  of  Christ  to  all  nations?  The 
Bible  Society,  wherever  its  branches  extend,  is  but  one 
association,  and  the  wonderful  favour  shown  by  heaven  to 
this  institution  seems  to  me  to  point  to  the  adoption  of  other 
measures  of  universal  co-operation.  And  I  do  think  that 
such  a  correspondence  between  all  Protestant  churches  as 
would  cause  all  to  recognise  the  unity  of  the  Church  of 
Christ,  however  its  parts  may  be  separated,  and  diffuse  a 
common  feeling  through  the  whole  body,  would  be  produc- 
tive of  the  happiest  effects.  Besides  the  delightful  com- 
munion that  would  then  exist,  many  important  benefits 
might  be  conferred.  For  instance,  you  have  a  missionary 
society  for  the  purpose  of  sending  the  gospel  to  the  Tartar 
tribes,  and  when  once  you  shall  have  succeeded  in  firmly 
planting  Christianity  in  the  place  selected  for  the  field  of 
your  operations,  its  local  situation  will,  I  suppose,  afford  you 
very  great  facilities  for  a  wider  display  of  your  benevolence. 
There  may  be  most  important  and  urgent  calls  which  your  re- 
sources may  not  enable  you  to  meet.  In  this  case,  the  whole 
Protestant  world  ought  to  step  forward,  and  afford  you  aid. 
The  ability  of  American  churches  might  enlarge  your  means, 
or  relieve  your  embarrassments.  And  so  of  us.  We  have 
a  mighty  field  for  domestic  missions.  We  have  Indians  and 
blacks,  and  Spaniards  to  christianize ;  and  at  the  same 
time  are  obliged  to  support  Theological  Seminaries  for  the 
education  of  young  men  for  the  ministry.  In  sorne  urgent 
case,  then,  you  might  help  us,  and  draw  our  hearts  to  you  by 
a  sense  of  obligation.  So  throughout  Protestant  Christen- 
dom. It  was  with  views  of  this  sort  that  the  overture  was 
brought  forward  by  the  Assembly. 

Now,  I  wish  to  know  of  you  whether  in  your  judgment 
any  correspondence  can  be  established  between  the  church 
of  Scotland,  and  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  United 
States,  that  would  promise  an  increase  of  affection  and 
brtoherly  co-operation  in  the  important  measures  now  car- 


I 


DOCTOR     RICE.  169 

rying  on  for  evangelizing  the  world.     We  have  the  same 
confession  of  faith,  the  same  discipline,  the  same  mode  of 
worship.     In  fact,  the  Presbyterian  church  here  is  a  des- 
cendant of  the  church  of  Scotland.     And  the  great  mass  of 
our  people  are  descendants  of  the  English,  Scotch  and  Irish. 
We  use  the  same  language,  have  the  same  stock  of  literature ; 
in  general  the  same  usages,  and  fundamentally  the  same 
laws.     The   intercourse   between  us  and  Great  Britain  is 
more   than  between  us  and  all  other  parts  of  the  world. 
Harmony  and  peace   ought   always   to  prevail  among  us. 
Your  Reviews   and  our  Newspapers  seem  to  forbid  this; 
but  christians    ought  to  counteract   their   influence.     The 
present  is  a  most  favourable  time  for  them  to  step  forward, 
and  "  brighten  the  chain  of  love."     We  are  at  peace,  and 
the  hostile  feeling  produced  by  the  late  war,  is  giving  way  to 
kindly  sentiments.     Our  government  and  our   people  are 
generally  disposed  to  cultivate  a  friendly  disposition  towards 
you.      I  wish  the  christians   in  each  nation  so  to  draw  the 
cords  of  love  that  ambitious  rulers  shall  be  unable  to  divide 
us.     Men  will  learn  war  no  more,  when  the  majority  of  the 
people  are  christians,  and  love  as  brethren. 

This  object  interests  me  so,  that  I  talk  at  a  great  rate. 
Excuse  my  loquacity.     I  wish  that  your  Reviewers  would 
alter   their   tone  respecting  America.     They   suffer  them- 
selves to  be  greatly  imposed  upon  by  garrulous  travellers, 
who  go  home  and  play  the  traveller,  as  the  French  say, 
most  egregiously.     But  they  seem    to   obtain   easy  credit 
with   their  countrymen;    and   their  wonderful   stories  are 
repeated  of  a  state  of  morals   and  manners  not  known  in 
this  country.     Some  of  the  people  here  laugli  at  their  mis- 
takes, and   others  are  angry  at  their  abuse.     The  general 
effect  of  the  scant  praise  and  abundant  censure  bestowed  on 
us,  convinces  me  that  the  people  of  this  country,  in  general, 
esteem  the  British  more  than  they  do  any  but  themselves,  and 
would  rather  have  their  praise,  and  enjoy  their  friendship, 
than  that  of  all  the  world  beside.     If  this  be  so,  how  easy 

16  ^ 


170  MEMOIR     OF 

would  it  be  to  perpetuate  peace,  and  how  deadly  must  be 
the  hatred  when  all  these  feelings  are  changed  into  malig- 
nity ? 

You  see  that  1  write  to  you  with  the  freedom  and  confi- 
dence of  an  old  acquaintance.  I  regard  you  as  a  brother 
in  the  gospel, — rejoice  in  your  reputation,  and  much  more 
in  your  widely  extended  usefulness,  and  pray  that  your 
labours  may  be  crowned  with  more,  and  yet  more  suc- 
cess, and  I  am 

Most  truly  yours, 

John  H.  Kice, 

P.  S.  Your  sermons  in  the  Tron  church  have  been  repub- 
lished here,  and  are  highly  esteemed. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ. 

Richmond,  Sejjt.  I6th,  1819. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  been  thinking  on  the  subject  of  your  last  letter 
ever  since  I  received  it.  You  well  know  the  interest  that 
I  take  in  the  prosperity  of  the  church  in  Norfolk.  Any 
thing  that  I  can  do  shall  be  done. 

There  are  three  things  to  which  you  must  especially  have 
reference  in  your  next  clioice. 

1.  That  the  object  of  it  be  a  man  of  unquestioned  piety 
and  active  zeal. 

2.  That  he  have  a  voice,  gestures,  and  manners  in  and 
out  of  the  pulpit,  acceptable  to  the  people.  [How  did  such 
a  plain  man  as  I  am  ever  become  acceptable  to  the  Nor- 
folcensians  ?] 

3.  That  he  have  good  intellectual  bottom.  This  last  is 
an  affair  not  sufficiently  attended  to  in  the  settlement  of 
ministers  in  town.  Any  young  fellow  who  has  a  smooth 
face  and  a  fine  voice  can  run  away  with  the  people  for 
three  months.  But  by  tliat  time,  the  perpetual  recurrence  of 
the  same  set  phrases,  and  the  same  ideas,  wearies  the 
audience.     No  man  can  long  retain  his  popularity,  who  has 


DOCTOR     RICE.  171 

not  resources  enough  to  enable  him  to  present  at  least  one 
new  idea  once  a  week. 

As   to  the  two   first  particulars,  Mr.  G would  do 

very  well.  As  to  the  third,  I  do  not  know.  Indeed,  I 
know  several  who  would  answer  as  to  Nos.  one  and  two. 
But  it  requires  a  long  time  to  know  whether  a  man  will  do 
for  No.  three. 

Take  care  about  candidating.  It  is  the  common  way  of 
forming  parties  in  the  church.  A  right  sleek  fellow  who 
wanted  a  settlement  very  much,  would  soon  find  out  the 
way  to  get  into  the  good  graces  of  all  your  *  *  *  *  *s,  and 
then  you  might  object  to  him  if  you  dared. 

I  am  just  about  to  publish  an  Essay  on  Baptism.  I  think 
it  very  decisive  on  the  subject.  But  what  others  may  think, 
I  know  not. 

I  shall  shortly  publish  an  Ordination  Sermon,  with  an 

Appendix.     It  is  to  be  No.  II.  of  my  Pamphleteer.     But 

people  must  buy  my  books  or  I  cannot  write  them. 

Give  my  best  love  to  all  friends. 

Yours  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  RET.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  Oct,  llth,  1819. 
My  De  ar  Sir, 

Mr.  M is  here,  and  has  informed  me  that  Mr.  Nevins, 

whom  we  had  calculated  on  as  a  Missionary  for  this  region, 
will  probably  be  stopped  and  detained  during  the  winter  in 
Norfolk.  We  wish  Norfolk  to  be  well  supplied ;  and  think 
it  peculiarly  important  that,  at  this  period,  a  man  of  warm 
piety  and  commanding  talents  should  be  employed  there. 

This  is  an  important  time  in  Richmond  too.  There  is 
certainly  a  more  than  usual  spirit  of  inquiry  among  the  peo- 
ple. Mr.  Kirkpatrick  has  gone  to  Cumberland ;  and  Mr. 
Blair  becomes  more  and  more  infirm  every  day.  So  the 
Presbyterian  interests  here,  amidst  the  jealousies  and  oppo- 


172  MEMOIR     OF 

sition  of  Baptists,  Methodists,  and  Episcopalians,  are  to  be 
sustained  almost  exclusively  through  my  instrumentality. 
And  I  find  the  burden  a  very  heavy  one.  It  is  too  great  for 
my  feeble  abilities.  I  was  elevated  with  the  prospect  of 
getting  an  active  zealous  young  preacher  stationed  here,  in 
the  employ  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  young  men.  I 
pray  you  send  one,  if  possible,  immediately.  I  am  just  now 
setting  out  for  Presbytery  and  Synod,  and  I  leave  the  place 
while  a  number  of  young  people  are  in  a  state  of  considera- 
ble sensibility,  and  are  making  very  serious  inquiries  after 
truth.  I  go  as  the  old  man  in  Homer,  fpcwv  asxovTfi  ys  ^v/xio. 
I  am  willing  to  do  my  duty  in  the  judicatories  of  the  church, 
but  very  unwilling  to  leave  my  people  in  their  present  con- 
dition. Pray  send  us  help.  Yet  Oh !  if  you  could  yourself 
come  !  You  would  render  a  service  of  pre-eminent  import- 
ance, I  have  no  doubt,  to  the  cause  of  piety. 

I  have  heard  from  Doctors  Miller,  McDowell,  and  Green, 
that  I  have  been  honoured  with  a  diploma  from  the  College 
of  New  Jersey.  I  have  never  valued,  and  of  course  never 
coveted  Academical  honours.  But  any  thing  that  betokens 
the  esteem  and  friendship  of  good  men,  is  grateful  to  my 
heart.  So  far  as  a  degree  betokens  this,  I  prize  it,  and  no 
farther. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESq. 

Richmond,  Dec'r  30th,  1819. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

The  articles  which  you  were  so  good  as  to  send  me,  came 
to  hand  in  tolerably  good  order.  The  Lute  has  a  number 
of  very  fine  tones  ;  but  it  is  so  new  an  instrument,  and  has 
been  practised  on  so  little,  that  I  cannot  certainly  determine 
what  its  character  will  be.  As  far,  however,  as  this  has  been 
developed,  I  entertain  the  very  best  hopes.  As  for  the 
Trumpet,  I  at  first  took  it  to  be  a  very  fine  instrument  in- 
deed. But  on  closer  inspection,!  detected  a  crack  in  it,  pro- 
duced, I  am  pretty  confident,  by  being  blown  too  much. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  173 

Whether  the  injury  was  sustained  in  Norfolk,  or  Petersburg, 
or  before  it  was  used  at  either  of  those  places,  I  cannot  de- 
termine. Thus  far  I  have  used  your  figures ;  but  now  I 
must  talk  a  little  more  plainly. 

And  here  I  must  repeat  what  I  have  said  before.  It  is  an 
easy  thing  for  a  young  man  who  has  gone  through  college, 
and  studied  divinity,  to  get  up  a  few  sermons,  which  he  has 
composed  elaborately,  and  committed  carefully  to  memory, 
and  practised  before  the  glass,  to  please  the  great  mass  of 
hearers.  If  he  has  a  pretty  face,  and  a  good  voice,  and  abun- 
dance of  graceful  gestures,  he  will  absolutely  run  away  with 
them.  It  is  easy  for  such  an  one,  to  rise  at  a  prayer  meet- 
ing, and  give,  in  the  way  of  exhortation,  the  fragment  of  one 
of  these  sermons,  so  as  to  appear  very  well  as  an  extempore 
speaker.  But  after  all,  the  question  may  be,  and  ought  to 
be,  has  he  good  bottom?  Will  iie  hold  out  for  years,  bring- 
ing from  the  treasury  of  God's  word  things  new  and  old  ? 
This  is  a  point  not  easily  decided.  A  trial  of  several  months 
ought  to  be  had  in  various  exercises,  and  on  many  new  occa- 
sions. Besides,  the  teachers  of  young  men  ought  to  be 
closely  questioned  as  to  the  resources  of  their  minds,  and 
the  stock  of  knowledge  acquired,  and  the  improveableness 
of  their  understandings.  Nothing  is  more  evanescent  than 
mere  manner.  Let  its  novelty  wear  ofT  a  little,  and  it  will 
appear  a  very  Dutch  toy,  which  at  first  is  made  to  glitter  and 
look  like  gold,  but  is  found  in  a  few  days  to  be  white  pine 
and  imlty.  Besides,  preaching  elaborate  sermons  is  only  a 
small  part  of  ministerial  duty.  Visiting,  catechising,  &c.  (fee. 
are,  you  know,  of  incalculable  importance.  And  it  ought  to 
be  carefully  inquired  into  whether  a  man  has  a  turn,  and  re- 
lish for  these  things.  One  may  be  well  enough  disposed  to 
eat  good  dinners,  and  chat  with  the  ladies,  and  gracefully 
give  and  take  compliments,  who  has  no  relish  for  the  part  of 
pastoral  duty  now  under  consideration.  In  fact  visiting  the 
sick  and  the  poor,  and  giving  plain  unpalatable  advice  and 
reproof,  is  not  the  way  to  obtain  human  applause, 

*16 


174  MEMOIR     OF 

In  getting  your  pulpit  filled  again,  remember  that  while 
you  want  a  man  of  talents  and  popular  address,  you  want  an 
active,  zealous,  indefatigable  pastor ;  a  man  of  fervent  piety; 
one  whose  great  object  is,  not  to  win  applause,  but  to  win 
souls  to  Christ.  I  would  take  no  man  until  I  had  tried  him 
at  the  bedside  of  the  dying,  and  among  the  poor  and  desti- 
tute, as  well  as  in  the  pulpit. 

My  love  to  Norfolk  makes  me  write  thus.  My  fervent 
prayer  is,  that  God  may  send  you  a  pastor  after  his  own 
heart,  who  shall  build  up  your  church,  and  promote  the  cause 
of  vital  piety  in  the  borough,  and  the  country  connected  with 
it.  Your  place  is  one  of  importance,  and  its  importance  is 
growing.  While  you  have  only  one  Presbyterian  Church 
there,  it  will  be  more  a  mark  for  observation,  and  will  have 
much  greater  influence  in  deciding  the  character  of  Presby- 
terianism,  than  any  single  church  can  have,  when  there  shall 
be  half  a  dozen.  "I  therefore  am  at  once  anxious  that  you 
should  be  speedily  supplied,  and  supplied  in  the  best  man- 
ner. 

Don't  talk  about  troubling  me  with  your  pieces.  I  want 
you  to  write  more  than  you  ever  have  done.  I  am  again 
discouraged  with  the  lukevvarmness  of  friends.  Some  of  the 
Tramontane  people  are  so  dissatisfied  because  I  will  not 
come  out  against  the  Episcopalians,  that  they  are  trying  to 
set  up  another  Magazine  at  Lexington.  Proposals  are  issued, 
and  they  say  that  they  will  publish  if  they  get  four  hundred 
subscribers.  I  am  losing  mine  fast.  But  if  1  retain  five 
hundred,  I  will  publish.  I  have  no  doubt,  however,  that  I 
shall  have  eight  hundred  to  begin  the  year  with,  and  if  you 
will  help  me  right  steadily,  we  shall  go  on  well  yet.  Let 
these  hard  times  pass  off,  and  we  shall  rise  again. 

Give  my  love  to  sister  Louisa,  son  Camp,  and  all  friends. 
Accept  from  me  all  that  you  wish  to  have,  and  take  the  kind 
regards  of  the  ladies. 

Yours  most  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  175 

TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD.* 

Jan'y  21st,  1820. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  remember  you  said  the  other  night  that  you  were  willing 
to   walk  by  my  light.     I  told  Mrs.  Rice  of  it,  and  she,  to 

*  This  lady  whose  name  occurs  here  for  the  first  time,  was  one  of 
those  "  honourable  women"  who,  on  his  first  coming  to  Richmond,  at- 
tached themselves  with  the  most  lively  zeal  and  affection  to  his  minis- 
try.  She  was  at  that  time  living  with  her  husband,  Gen.  James  Wood, 
a  distinguished  revolutionary  officer,  and  lately  Governor  of  the  State, 
at  their  seat  called  Olney,  near  the  city;  but  on  his  death,  which  hap- 
pened  about  a  year  afterwards,  she  had  moved  to  town,  in  order  to  be 
near  her  pastor ;  and  was  now  one  of  the  most  active  and  efficient 
members  of  his  church,  and  one  of  the  very  dearest  of  his  friends. 
And  she  was  indeed  most  worthy  to  be  so ;  for  she  was  certainly  one 
of  the  most  venerable,  and  agreeable,  and  interesting  old  ladies  that 
ever  lived.  The  following  is  a  brief  sketch  of  her  character  from  his 
own  pen. 

"  Mrs.  Wood  was  no  common  woman.  She  was  the  daughter  of  a  most 
respectable  clergyman,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who,  on  removing  to  this 
country,  fixed  his  residence  at  Clermont,  in  the  county  of  Stafford. 
She  lost  her  father  early  in  life,  but  not  until  his  instruction  and  the  use 
of  his  library  had  given  a  powerlul  impulse  to  her  mind.  Her  under- 
standing was  well  cultivated,  and  her  taste  greatly  improved  by  much 
and  various  reading.  Many  of  the  standard  English  and  French  wri- 
ters were  quite  familiar  to  her  memory;  and  having,  trom  her  connec- 
tions in  life,  enjoyed  unusual  opportunities  of  seeing  the  world,  she  de- 
rived great  improvement  from  actual  observation.  Her  manners  were 
peculiarly  dignified  and  graceful,  her  politeness  was  genuine  and  unaf- 
fected. She  possessed  uncommon  fluency,  had  a  ready  and  brilliant 
wit,  and  a  rich  imagination.  These  qualifications  fitted  her  to  shine 
in  the  most  brilliant  circles,  and  made  her  society  attractive  both  to  the 
aged  and  the  young. 

"But  she  greatly  preferred  the  privacies  of  domestic  life;  and  there 
she  was  found  discharging  with  exemplary  fidelity  the  duties  of  a  wife, 
mother,  neighbour,  friend,  and  mistress.  The  circle  at  her  fireside 
crowded  round  her,  and  listened  with  delight  to  conversation  some- 
limes  grave  and  sometimes  gay,  as  best  suited  the  subject ;  to  the 


176  MEMOIR     OF 

make  trial  of  the  thing,  has  taken  one  of  my  half  dollars  and 
bought  this  little  glass  lamp,  and  filled  it  with  my  oil,  and 

anecdotes  of  revolutionary  heroes  with  which  her  mind  was  stored  ;  to 
her  details  of  events  that  occurred  during  the  war  of  independence;  to 
her  descriptions  of  persons ;  to  her  delineations  of  character,  some- 
times humorous  and  satirical,  and  sometimes  deeply  pathetic;  and  in- 
deed to  whatever  she  was  pleased  to  say — for  every  thing  from  her  was 
interesting.  To  the  last,  the  young  whom  she  honoured  with  her 
friendship,  preferred  her  society  to  that  of  their  gay  coevals. 

"What  is  termed  natural  affection  existed  in  Mrs.  Wood  with  peculiar 
force.  All  that  were  related  to  her  had  a  claim  on  her  love  which  she 
was  ever  ready  to  acknowledge.  And  as  the  daughter  of  a  Scotchman, 
she  ever  regarded  old  Scotland  with  a  highly  patriotic  feeling. 

"  As  a  friend,  she  loved  with  an  ardour  and  intenseness  of  affection 
which  identified  the  honour,  interests,  and  welfare  of  her  friends  with 
her  own. 

"As  a  neighbour, she  overflowed  with  kindness, and  delighted  in  every 
office  which  renders  the  relationship  delightful. 

"Her  conduct  to  the  poor  and  afflicted,  was  characterized  by  the  deep- 
est sympathy,  and  the  most  unstinted  liberality.  She  never  grew  weary 
in  doing  them  good.  She  was  an  active  and  efficient  member  of  the 
association  which  erected  the  Female  Orphan  Asylum,  an  institution 
which  has  saved  many,  who  appeared  to  be  devoted  victims,  from  vice 
and  ruin.  And  when  advanced  age  prevented  what  may  be  called  pub, 
lie  services  of  this  kind,  she  was  ever  ready  to  afford  her  charities 
unobserved  by  the  world,  and  unknown  to  any  but  her  most  confiden- 
tial  friends, 

"  To  crown  the  whole,  Mrs.  Wood  was  a  christian ;  not  by  tradition- 
ary  faith,  but  on  examination  and  conviction;  not  with  a  cold  assent  of 
the  understanding,  but  with  the  whole  heart.  She  believed,  was  hum- 
ble, was  penitent.  She  loved  the  church;  the  services  of  the  sanctuary 
were  her  delight;  the  people  of  God  were  in  her  eyes  the  excellent  of 
the  earth.  She  had  no  party  feelings.  In  her  judgment  there  was  but 
one  church,  and  one  true  religion;  and  all  that  belonged  to  Christ  were 
recognised  as  brethren.  She  was  prompt  and  zealous  in  promoting 
plans  of  christian  benevolence,  and  gave  solid  proof  of  her  compassion 
for  those  who  set  in  darkness  and  have  no  light.  And  as  she  wished 
and  prayed  that  all  might  partake  of  the  blessings  of  the  gospel,  so  she 
was  peculiarly  desirous  that  her  relations  might  know  its  power  and 
rejoice  in  its  hopes." 


DOCTOR     RICE.  177 

put  a  piece  of  my  wick  in  it ;  and  now  she  sends  it  to  you 
with  every  expression  of  her  sincere  regard ;  begging  that 
you  would  be  good  enough  to  accept  it  as  a  token  of  her  af- 
fection, which  she  wishes  may  appear  as  clear  and  bright  as 
the  flame  of  *'  winter  strained  oil.''^  She  also  wishes  that 
as  you  walk  hy  my  light,  you  may  sometimes  read  and  work 
by  her  light;  and,  having  us  thus  conjoined,  the  friendship 
of  all  three  of  us  may  be  brightened  and  perpetuated.  In  this 
I  unite  with  her  most  heartily:  and,  in  addition,  I  pray  that 
all  of  us  may  continually  stand  with  our  lamps  trimmed  and 
our  lights  burning,  looking  for  the  coming  of  our  Lord.  And 
when  the  lamp  of  life  shall  go  out,  may  we  all  be  removed 
to  that  city  where  there  is  no  need  of  a  candle,  or  of  the 
moon,  or  the  sun;  but  where  the  Lord  God  giveth  light,  and 
there  is  no  night  forever. 

With  best  love  to  Alice,  we  are,  beloved  friend,  most  truly 
and  affectionately  yours. 

A.  S.  &J.  H.Rice. 

Some  time  early  in  May,  this  year,  (1820,)  being  under 
obligation  as  Moderator  of  the  preceding  year,  to  attend  the 
approaching  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  we  find  him 
going  on  to  New  York,  to  attend  the  anniversary  of  the 
American  Bible  Society  in  that  city,  and  afterwards  return- 
ing by  the  way  of  Princeton  to  Philadelphia ;  and  the  follow- 
ing letter  gives  us  some  account  of  his  journey  at  this  time, 

TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD. 

Philadelphia,  May  I8th,  1820. 
My  Belo\'ed  Mother, 

I  sat  down  to  write  to  you  the  other  day,  when  I  was  in 
Princeton,  but  was  interrupted,  and  have  not  had  time  to 
place  myself  at  a  writing  table  until  this  hour.  I  hoped 
that  I  should  get  a  sweet  note  from  you  while  in  Princeton, 
but  I  suppose  that  you  did  not  understand  what  I  said  on 
that  subject.     I  sent  twice  or  thrice  to  the  Post-office  how- 


178  MEMOIR      OF 

ever,  for  a  letter  from  you ;  and  if  you  could  have  seen 
how  much  I  was  disappointed,  you  would  then  be  able  to 
judge  how  much  I  value  your  communications.  Do,  my 
dear  mother,  let  me  hear  from  you  soon.  I  long  for  a  sight 
of  your  hand-writing. 

I  had  a  prosperous  journey  to  AVashington,  and  a  pleas- 
ant time  while  there,  with  the  exception  that  I  had  too 
much  to  do.  I  preached  in  Congress  Hall  on  Sabbath 
morning.  The  Hall  is  certainly  the  finest  church  that  I 
ever  preached  in,  but,  between  you  and  me,  I  think  that  I 
have  preached  before  now  to  audiences  quite  as  intelligent 
as  the  one  I  had  there.  This,  I  suppose,  would  be  heresy 
in  Washington,  but  it  will  be  truth  in  Richmond. 

From  Washington,  I  went  in  about  forty-eight  hours  to 
New  York,  and  caught  a  bad  cold  on  my  way,  from  which 
I  have  not  recovered  even  now.  The  object  of  my  going 
to  New  York  was  to  attend  the  anniversary  of  the  Ame- 
rican Bible  Society.  There  was  a  most  interesting  report 
read  by  Dr.  Milnor,  an  Episcopal  clergyman  of  New  York, 
who,  by  the  way,  is  one  of  the  finest  fellows  that  I  know. 
Intelligent,  pious,  and  liberal,  I  cannot  help  loving  him  as  a 
brother,  and  wishing  that  all  of  every  denomination  were 
like  him.  The  report  was  however  very  long;  and  was 
followed  by  six  or  eight  long  speeches,  made  beforehand, 
and  then  fixed  to  the  resolutions  that  they  were  intended 
to  support.  The  Northern  people  admired  these  things ; 
but  I  have  no  relish  for  speeches  where  nature  and  feeling 
are  sacrificed  to  rhetorical  flourish. 

From  New  York  I  returned  to  Princeton,  and  there  I 
was  most  highly  gratified.  My  old  friends  Dr.  Alexander, 
Dr.  Miller,  and  Dr.  Green,  all  very  pleasant,  pious,  learned 
men,  made  the  time  very  agreeable.  But  what  pleased  me 
most  was  the  examination  of  students  of  divinity.  I  heard 
about  seventy  examined  in  various  departments  of  Theolo- 
gical learning,  and  they  so  acquitted  themselves,  that  hope 


DOCTOR     RICE.  179 

may  well  be  entertained  of  their  being  extensively  useful  in 
the  church. 

I  have  gone  on  until  my  paper  is  almost  out,  and  I  have 
not  got  to  my  present  place  of  residence.  But  I  must  bid 
you  farewell,  and  write  again  in  a  day  or  two.  Best  love 
to  Alice.     Dear  mother,  farewell !     In  great  haste, 

Yours  forever, 

John  H.  Rice. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia,  according  to  order, 
he  opened  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly  with  a 
sermon,  (afterwards  published  by  request,)  from  the  text, 
Rom.  xiv.  19 — Let  us,  therefore,  follow  after  the  things 
that  make  for  peace,  and  things  wherewith  one  may  edify 
another — a  truly  excellent  discourse.  It  was  not  indeed 
particularly  able,  nor  remarkably  eloquent;  but  it  was  judi- 
cious and  appropriate,  and  the  spirit  which  it  breathed 
throughout  was  eminendy  evangelical.  Some  passages  of 
it,  also,  particularly  that  in  which  he  exhorted  his  brethren 
to  cultivate  the  spirit  of  harmony  among  themselves,  by 
attending  to  the  great  fundamental  points  of  religion,  and 
forgetting  minor  differences,  "  Let  little  things  pass  for  little 
things,"  and  that  in  which  he  urged  them  to  attend  to  the 
great  duty  which  was  particularly  incumbent  upon  them  as 
Presbyterians,  to  edify,  not  only  the  church,  but  the  coun- 
try, and,  by  their  talents  and  learning,  constrain  the  rising 
literature  of  the  land  to  aid  the  progress  and  triumphs  of 
religion,  were  highly  characteristic;  and  the  conclusion  of 
it  was  deeply  solemn  and  impressive.  It  was,  accordingly, 
well  received  by  the  venerable  body  to  which  it  was  ad- 
dressed; and,  we  are  told,  had  a  happy  effect  upon  its 
debates  and  proceedings  throughout  the  session.  At  the 
same  time,  it  contributed  not  a  litde  to  elevate  his  character 
in  the  esteem  of  his  brethren  of  all  parties,  and  thus  gave 
him  still  more  of  that  influence  which  he  was  always  seek- 


l80  MEMOIR      OF 

ing ;  but  only  that  he  might  consecrate  it  to  the  service  of 
the  Church. 

TO  MISS  HARRIET  B.  MINOR. 

Philadelphia,  May  22d,  1820. 
Dear  Harriet, 

As  your  aunt  has  probably  left  home,  I  must  take  you  for 
my  correspondent.  This  going  of  her's,  however,  is  a  most 
uncomfortable  thing  to  me.  I  feel  as  though  1  had  parted 
with  her  a  second  time.  While  I  knew  that  she  was  in 
Richmond,  I  felt  tolerably  easy.  But  I  am  quite  restless 
now.  I  hope,  however,  that  you  will  let  me  hear  from  you 
often,  and  thus  do  the  best  you  can  to  make  up  for  the 
want  of  her  letters. 

The  General  Assembly  consists  of  about  one  hundred 
members.  We  are  going  on  doing  business  very  finely 
thus  far,  and  I  hope  that  we  shall  get  through  well.  We 
have,  however,  a  great  deal  to  do,  and  it  will  be  well  if  we 
get  through  time  enough  for  me  to  be  at  home  on  the  day 
appointed.  I  shall,  however,  endeavour  hard  to  disappoint 
nobody. 

It  is  a  great  pity  that  your  aunt  is  not  here.  For  I  have 
happened  in  my  sermon  greatly  to  please  all  parties  in  the 
General  Assembly,  and  as  they  have  not  her  to  tell  about 
it,  they  come  right  to  me.  I  never  got  so  much  blarney  in 
all  my  life  perhaps,  as  I  have  in  the  last  week.  If  these 
things  can  hurt  me,  I  shall  come  home  quite  a  swaggering 
fellow.     But  I  know  that  they  are  all  vanity. 

The  people  here  seem  to  me  to  be  much  more  warm- 
hearted and  hospitable  than  they  used  to  be,  I  never  was 
entertained  more  to  my  liking  than  I  am  on  this  occasion. 

Give  my  love  to  Mrs.  Woodward,  who  is  now  with  you, 
I  suppose;  to  Mr.  Pollard,  and  Baldwin,  and  to  all  friends. 
Tell  Virginia  that  I  love  her.     In  fact,  I  think  that  I  love 


DOCTOR     RICE.  181 

every  body,  and  few  more  than  you,  my  dear  child,  whom 
I  pray  God  ever  to  bless. 

Your  fond  uncle, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MISS  HARRIET  B.  MINOR. 

Philadelphia,  May  29th,  1820. 
My  Dear  Harriet, 

I  have  just  received  your  letter,  and  have  been  very  much 
pleased  to  get  it.  It  is  delightful  to  hear  from  home,  and 
from  those  friends  whom  I  so  much  love. 

I  am  not  in  a  condition  however  to  write  much,  as  the 
business  of  the  General  Assembly  is  very  urgent.  I  know 
however  that  my  friends  will  be  gratified  if  they  can  only 
hear  that  I  am  well.  I  believe  that  I  should  be  very  well 
to-day  if  I  had  not  preached  so  much  yesterday.  In  conse- 
quence of  that,  I  feel  languid  and  somewhat  sore  ;  but  other- 
wise quite  well.  I  am  very  sorry  that  I  am  utterly  unable 
at  present  to  say  when  I  shall  set  out  for  home.  The  business 
of  the  Assembly  is  not  half  done  yet.  I  am  glad  to  perceive 
to-day,  however,  that  there  is  a  disposition  to  do  business 
rather  than  to  talk ;  and  we  have  of  course  done  more  to-day 
than  on  any  two  preceding  days.  We  may  get  through  by 
Thursday  or  Friday,  but  I  fear  that  we  shall  not. 

I  am  glad  to  hear  particularly  from  all  my  friends  in  Rich- 
mond, and  think  of  them  with  continual  anxiety  to  be  among 
them.  But  my  duty  places  me  here,  and  I  cannot  desert. 
Perhaps  I  have  served  the  Church  more  effectually  this 
month,  than  I  had  done  for  a  whole  year  preceding. 

Tell  Mr.  Baldwin  that  I  have  got  acquainted  with  a  Mr. 
Button  of  Connecticut,  with  whom  I  amvery  highly  pleased. 
He  is  a  man  of  real  talents.  Professor  Fitch  of  New  Haven 
was  here ;  but  he  became  unwell  and  left  us  pretty  soon. 
The  Connecticut  men  that  are  here  go  before  any  of  our 
eastern  brethren  of  the  other  states.  But  there  are  many 
men  of  powerful  talents  in  the  church  now. — And  I  think 

17 


1 82  31  E  M  O  I  R     O  F 

that  we  are  growing  in  intellectual  strength.  Drs.  Hoge  and 
Alexander  are  beyond  all  doubt  the  two  foremost  among  us. 
(Huzza  for  Virginia  !)  But  while  1  say  this,  I  am  ready  to 
acknowledge  the  excellence  of  a  great  many  other  brethren 
from  various  parts. 

Give  my  best  love  to  all  my  beloved  friends.  I  cannot 
name  them  ;  but  you  must  name  them  for  me.  Tell  Virginia 
I  do  not  forget  her.  Give  my  love  to  Martha,  and  all  the 
servants.  I  am  glad  to  hear  a  good  account  of  them.  I  as- 
sure you,  my  dear,  of  my  unfeigned  affection,  and  of  my 
paternal  love. — Farewell ! 

Your  fond  uncle, 

John  H.  Rice. 

On  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Assembly,  he  returned 
to  Richmond,  where,  not  long  afterwards,  he  received  the 
intelligence  of  an  event  which  affected  him  with  the  most 
lively  sorrow  at  the  time,  and  had  subsequently  an  impor- 
tant influence  upon  the  course  of  his  life.  This  was  the 
death  of  his  venerable  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hoge,  whom  on 
the  rising  of  the  Assembly,  he  had  left  sick  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  had  been  attending  the  sessions  of  the  body,  and 
actively  and  usefully  engaged  in  all  its  business,  and  where 
he  had  afterwards  continued  to  languish  until  the  fifth  of 
.July  following,  when  he  died.*     The  loss  of  such  a  man, 

*  It  is  truly  gratifying  to  be  able  to  add  here,  that  the  last  hours  of 
this  eminent  and  excellent  man  were  such  as  gave  new  evidence  of  his 
piety,  and  zeal  for  the  cause  of  Christ.  "  During  more  than  five  weeks 
of  sickness,"  (says  Dr.  Rice,  in  an  obituary  notice  of  him,  which  was 
published  in  the  Magazine,)  "his  sufterings  were  very  great.  Yet  he 
bore  all  with  exemplary  patience,  and  entire  submission  to  the  will  of 
God.  In  general,  the  state  of  his  mind  was  calm  and  tranquil ;  but 
occasionally  he  enjoyed  the  best  consolations  of  religion,  and  expressed 
his  happiness  in  the  highest  terms.  His  ruling  passion  was  strong  in 
death.  Love  of  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  desire  to  promote  her  welfare 
possessed  him  to  the  last.  Often  when  asleep,  among  inarticulate 
noises  made  in  fruitless  attempts  to  speak,  he  was  heard  to  say,  with 


DOCTOR     RICE.  183 

indeed,  with  whom  he  had  been  so  long  associated  in  the 
labours  of  the  gospel,  and  for  whose  character  and  talents  he 
had  always  entertained  the  highest  respect,  natuarally  touch- 
ed his  heart.     But  he  felt  it  more  sensibly  from  the  appre- 
hension which  it  excited  in  his  mind  for  the  fate  of  the  The- 
ological Seminary,  of  which  the  deceased  had  been  for  some 
years  the  sole  Professor,  and  which  he  feared  would  now 
expire  with  him.     He  knew  at  least  that  there  were  some 
members  of  the  Synod,  of  no  small  weight  and  influence, 
who  would  gladly  seize  on  this  event  to  break  up  the  insti- 
tution, and  transfer  its  funds  to  the  Seminary  at  Princeton. 
Nor  were  they,  indeed,  without  some  very  specious  and 
imposing  reasons  for  favouring  that  course ;  but  such  as  could 
not  mislead  his  sounder  views.     For,  m  the  first  place,  he 
justly  thought  that  it  would  be  an  act  of  gross  injustice  to  the 
original  subscribers  who  had  given  their  money  expressly 
for  an  institution  to  be  placed  at  Hampden  Sydney,  and  in 
many  instances,  no  doubt,  from  a  particular  aftection  for  that 
locality.     He  was  satisfied,  too,  that  the  hope  which  had 
dazzled  their  minds  of  making  the  Seminary  at  Princeton 
the  sole  nursery  for  the  young  preachers  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  so  a  bond  of  union  for  tlie  whole  body,  was  en- 
tirely fallacious ;  as  he  saw  clearly  that  public  opinion,  and 
the  exigencies  of  the  times,  would  demand  the  establishment 
of  at  least  two  or  three  subsidiary,  and  perhaps  subordinate, 
institutions  in  different  parts  of  the  country.    He  was,  there- 
strong  emphasis,  "The  Cliurch — the  Church — the  Bible  Society." — 
And  thus  he  went  fi-om  the  services  of  the  Church  mihtant,  to  the  joys 
and  glories  of  the  Church  triumphant," — happy  in  his  death,  and  ho- 
noured by  the  regrets  of  all  who  knew  him.     His  body  was  buried  in 
the  yard  attached  to  the  Pine  street  church,  in  Philadelphia,  and  a 
marble  tablet  was  afterwards  erected  to  his  memory  within  the  church 
itself,  which  declares,  in  a  very  just  and  proper  inscription,  that  "he 
went  from  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Phi- 
ladelphia, to  the  General  Assembly  and  Church  of  the  Jirst  horn  in. 
Heaven,  on  the  5th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1820." 


184  MEMOIR      OF 

fore,  most  anxious  to  retain  our  small  school  in  our  own 
state ;  and  enlarge  it,  if  possible,  into  a  proper  and  becoming 
establishment  for  the  southern  division  of  our  union ;  and  he 
now  exerted  himself,  accordingly,  to  impress  his  views  upon 
the  minds  of  his  brethren,  with  great  industry,  and,  most 
happily,  with  prevailing  effect. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ,. 

Richmond,  July  I2th,  1820. 
Dear  Friend, 

Have  you  heard  the  afflicting  intelligence?  Dr.  Hoge  is  no 
more  in  the  land  of  the  living.  It  has  pleased  God  to  remove 
him.  He  died  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  5th  inst.  In  peace 
did  he  leave  this  poor  world  to  go  to  the  mansion  prepared 
for  him.  We  have  lost  a  friend ;  and  he  has  gained  a  crown 
and  kingdom.  I  loved  him  so  well  that  I  rejoice  for  his 
change.  And  I  loved  the  Church  and  myself  so  much,  that 
I  mourn  his  departure.  But  sic  visum  est  Deo.  Let  us 
submit. 

And  now  what  shall  we  do?  There  is  Hampden  Sydney 
that  was  fast  rising  in  reputation,  and  there  is  our  Semina- 
ry— I  am  perplexed.  I  tell  you  what,  you  must  come  up 
here  about  the  27th  inst.,  and  go  with  me  to  Presbytery. 
Hanover  men  must  attend  generally,  and  some  plan  of  ope- 
ration must  be  fixed  on  before  Synod ;  or  we  shall  meet  in 
Lynchburg  to  debate,  and  divide  at  a  sad  rate.  Think  of  the 
crisis  which  has  arrived,  and  make  every  necessary  sacrifice 
for  the  good  of  the  church.  Since  the  melancholy  tidings 
have  reached  me,  I  have  said  a  hundred  times,  what  shall 
we  do?  My  thoughts  have  chiefly  turned  to  my  old  friend 
Speece  as  most  likely  to  fill  the  sphere  occupied  by  father 
Hoge.  What  do  you  think  of  this  idea?  Pray  communi- 
cate fully,  freely,  and  speedily  to  me  on  this  subject. 
Best  love  to  you  and  yours  from  me  and  mine. 

As  ever, 

J.  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR      RICE.  185 


TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  July  21st,  1820. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

It  has  pleased  the  Lord  to  remove  the  good  Dr.  Hoge 
from  among  us.  You  know  full  as  well  as  I  do,  the  great 
loss  which  we  in  particular,  and  the  church  at  large  has  sus- 
tained by  this  dispensation.  But  it  becomes  us  to  submit  to 
infinite  wisdom,  and  acknowledge  God's  right  to  do  what  he 
will  with  his  own. 

One  of  the  greatest  evils  that  I  at  present  apprehend  from 
the  removal  of  Dr.  Hoge,  is  the  difference  of  opinion  which 
it  will  produce  in  our  Synod.  Some  will  urge  with  great 
earnestness  the  giving  up  of  our  piddling  school  here,  and 
joining  with  Princeton.  Others  will  oppose  this  plan  with 
equal  vehemence.  They  think  that  the  Synod  is  now  so 
pledged  and  committed  on  this  subject,  that  they  cannot  go 
back.  The  most  of  the  money  that  has  been  given,  has 
been  given  expressly  on  condition  that  there  should  be  a 
Theological  Seminary  at  Hampden  Sydney. 

I  need  not  tell  you  that  I  am  friendly  to  Princeton.  I  hope 
that  my  influence  will  be  felt  in  her  behalf  this  summer,  and 
that  from  our  congregations  generally  ni  this  state,  there  will 
go  to  the  treasurer  our  full  proportion.  I  expect  that  our 
litde  church  in  Richmond  will  give  fifty  dollars  a  year  for 
five  years.  Petersburg,  Fredericksburg,  &c.  will  do  their 
part  also.  But  while  it  is  my  wish  that  the  whole  church 
should  give  Princeton  full  support,  I  do  think  that  a  good 
seminary  under  orthodox  men,  I  mean  true  General  Assem- 
bly Presbyterians,  established  to  the  South  would  have  a 
happy  efiect.  My  wish  has  long  been  to  keep  up  a  sort  of 
nucleus  here,  around  which  a  great  Seminary  might  be 
gathered ;  and,  in  the  meantime,  let  there  be  a  general  exer- 
tion of  the  churches,  until  the  Princeton  Seminary  should  be 
put  beyond  the  reach  of  want  or  difficulty.  But  I  am  ready 
to  do  to  the  utmost  of  my  abilities,  what  shall  be  thought 

17* 


186  MEMOIR      OF 

best  by  a  majority  of  the  brethren.  I  acknowledge,  very 
readily,  that  there  are  wiser  heads  than  mine;  but  none 
have  warmer  hearts  for  the  prosperity  of  good  old  Presbyte- 
rianism. 

I  have  just  now  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Morgan,  by 
which  I  learn  that  there  has  been  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  Hampden  Sydney  College,  and  that  you  were 
unanimously  chosen  to  succeed  Dr.  Hoge.  I  know  no  par- 
ticulars; but  just  state  the  fact  as  it  is  stated  to  me.     O!  if 

you  would ,  but  I  check  myself.     May  the  Lord  dispose 

of  you  for  his  glory;  and  the  best  interests  of  the  church!" 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ. 

Richmond,  Sept.  2d,  1820. 
Dear  Sir, 

This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Mr.  B'^*,  of  our  church. 
A  man  of  extreme  modesty,  but  sterling  worth.  I  commend 
him  to  you. 

Let  no  worldly  consideration  prevent  your  going  to  Synod. 
The  tug  of  war  will  be  there.  We  shall  have  ***  and  *''^*, 
j^j-j(j  ***  and  ***,  all  decided  for  breaking  up  our  seminary, 
and  going  over  to  Princeton.  How  ***  will  proceed,  I 
know  not.  But  I  fear  him.  In  fact,  I  depend  on  nobody 
but  ***  to  stand  by  the  Hanover  men ;  and  I  am  not  sure 
that  they  will  all  be  firm.  We  must  go  charged  with  our 
heaviest  metal;  and  every  congregation  that  can  send  an 
elder,  must  send  one  without  fail. 

I  am  satisfied  that  if  we  do  not  raise  our  own  preachers, 
we  shall  go  without  them.  Besides,  our  genius  and  habits 
suit  the  Southern  country  best.  We  ought  to  educate  min- 
isters for  the  CaroUnas  and  Georgia.  As  for  the  Western 
country,  they  are  so  heterogeneous  I  know  not  who  will 
suit  them.  I  received  a  letter  from  the  South,  the  other  day, 
saying,  that  if  we  would  stir  ourselves  and  do  something, 
they  had  rather  send  their  young  men  to  us. 

The  people  of  Prince  Edward  are  high  in  hopes  that  they 


DOCTORRICE.  187 

will  get  Alexander  back.  He  has  not  refused;  but  has  given 
them  leave  to  lay  their  whole  case  before  him,  and  then  he 
will  decide.  His  health  cannot  stand  the  ruggedness  of  the 
Princeton  winter. 

I  hope  that  you  in  Norfolk  will  give  each  his  twenty-five 
cents  to  Princeton.  I  am  exceedingly  anxious  that  all  the 
churches  in  Hanover  Presbytery  should  promptly  regard 
this  appeal.  In  this  way  we  shall  show  that  we  are  friendly 
to  Princeton,  while  we  mean  to  support  our  own  Seminary. 
If  you  have  done  nothing,  pray  set  to  work  on  this  matter 
forthwith. 

Have  you  heard  from  my  excellent  Camp  ?  I  am 
most  anxious  about  him.  By  the  way,  as  he  could  not  at- 
tend to  the  business  of  the  Magazine,  he  employed  an  agent 
whom  I  have  not  heard  from ;  and  my  wheels  are  creaking 
sorely,  and  almost  ready  to  stop  for  want  of  grease.  Pray 
assist  my  friend  B in  finding  him,  and  getting  what  mo- 
ney can  be  gotten  from  him.  Also  let  him  see  Hall,  the 
bookseller,  who  had  about  three  hundred  dollars  worth  of 
Smith's  History  to  sell  for  me,  and  send  me  the  best  news 
about  that.  My  Magazine  is  flagging  for  want  of  support, 
and  yet  it  is  acquiring  greater  control  over  public  opinion 
than  ever.  I  can't  think  of  stopping  here,  and  yet  I  am 
sadly  plagued  and  discouraged.  There  must  be  some  stir 
made  about  it — friends  must  be  active.  I  do  wish  that  Pres- 
byterians could  be  made  to  understand  their  true  interest;  or 
rather  roused  to  the  pursuit  of  it. 

Do  you  think  that  the  Monastery  was  written  by  Wal- 
ter Scott?  1  doubt.  In  fact,  there  are  several  hands  em- 
ployed in  these  magical  works. 

Love  from  us  all  to  you  all. 

John  H.  Rice. 


188  MEMOIR      OF 


TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD. 

Richmond,  Sept.  26thy  1820. 
My  Dear  Mother, 

I  have  been  longing  fairly  to  get  a  letter  from  you,  and  I 
have  been  wondering  much  why  you  have  not  written. 
My  fear  was  that  you  were  sick  and  could  not  write.  But 
then  I  thouglit  that  dear  Alice  might  have  let  me  hear  from 
you.  However,  I  doubt  not  but  that  you  have  some  good 
reason.  I  cannot  for  a  moment  suppose  that  in  the  pleasant- 
ness of  Windsor  Forest  you  are  forgetful  of  your  friends  in 
Richmond. 

1  am  just  about  to  make  a  flying  trip  to  Prince  Edward, 
to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Hampden 
Sydney  College,  and  the  examination  of  the  students. 
I  wished,  however,  before  setting  out  to  drop  you  a  line. 
Not  because  I  think  that  you  need  a  memento  of  me,  but  it 
was  my  wish  to  do  as  much  like  calling  at  your  door  to  bid 
you  farewell,  the  morning  I  am  going  out  of  town,  as  pos- 
sible. It  must  of  necessity  be  a  very  hasty  call,  but  you 
know  that  is  better  than  nothing. 

I  know  that  Mr.  R writes  to  you,  or  Alice,  or  both, 

and  no  doubt  gives  you  all  the  town  news.  You  have  pro- 
bably heard  of  the  sickness  and  death  of  some  during  your 
absence.  The  city,  however,  has  on  the  whole  been 
healthy  during  the  season ;  and  diseases,  except  old 
chronic  complaints,  have  been  remarkably  manageable. 
There  is,  however,  great  and  desolating  sickness  in  some 
parts  of  the  country,  and  those  ordinarily  the  most  healthy 
in  Virginia,  such  as  Orange,  Albemarle,  and  Bedford. 
"When  I  was  a  boy  and  lived  in  the  last  mentioned  county, 
three  physicians  in  succession  made  the  experiment,  and 
said  that  so  few  people  died  in  Bedford  that  they  could  not 
live  there.  But  a  great  change  has  taken  place  since  that 
time. 


DOCTOR    RICE.  189 

I  wish  that  I  could  peep  in  and  see  how  you  and  Mrs. 

M ;  and  Alice,  are  employing  and  enjoying-  your- 
selves. I  fancy  that  I  can  hear  the  cheerful  sound  of  your 
voices,  and  now  and  then  a  good,  hearty,  side-shaking, 
wholesome  laugh.  And  then  you  turn  to  serious  things, 
aud  talk  with  a  view  to  edification.  And  here  self-love 
whispers  to  Mr.  Me,  "  If  you  were  within  ear-shot  of 
them,  you  v/ould  hear  frequent  and  affectionate  mention  of 
the  name  of  their  pastor."  Now,  if  you  could  see  my 
visage  at  this  moment,  you  would  understand  how  pre- 
cious the  suggestion  is;  for  I  feel  that  it  is  overspread 
with  a  self-complacent  smile,  and  I  am  put  into  most  per- 
fect good  humour  with  myself.  Such  is  the  effect  of  the 
supposition, — not  a  vain  one  I  am  sure — that  I  am  affection- 
ately remembered  by  you. 

This  remembrance  is  reciprocal.  You  do  not  know  how 
much  I  miss  you,  and  how  often  I  think  of  you.  I  pray  to 
Almighty  God  to  remember  you  for  good,  and  bestow  on 
you  his  very  best  blessings. 

Give  my  best  love  to  dear  Alice,  and  to  all  the  good, 
kind-hearted  M s.  Assure  them  of  my  most  affec- 
tionate regaads.  Include  Mrs.  Rice  in  all  this,  for,  as  I 
have  often  said,  in  these  things  she  and  I  are  of  one  mind. 

She  also  joins  with  me  in  most  affectionate  expressions 
of  filial  affection  to  yourself. 

I  am  most  truly  and  forever  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ,. 

Bichmond,  Oct.  3d,  1820. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  have  found  it  necessary  to  adopt  measures  with  a  view 
to  save  our  Magazine  from  a  premature  death.  I  hope  that 
they  will  be  successful.  The  effect  of  my  circular  sent  to 
Princeton  has  been  such  as  to  produce  a  promise  of  aid  from 


190  MEMOIR     OF 

Drs.  Alexander  and  Miller,  both  by  their  pens  and  their  pro- 
curing subscribers.  You  must  put  yourself  forward,  my 
dear  sir,  and  keep  the  work  along.  These  are  hard  times, 
and  they  will  press  me  to  the  dust,  unless  some  vigorous 
effort  should  be  made  to  hold  me  up.  I  want  subscribers 
who  will  pay,  and  friends  who  will  write.  The  Magazine 
is  now,  in  danger  of  death  as  it  is,  a  more  important  work 
than  it  ever  was,  because  it  is  regarded  with  apprehension 
by  the  infidels  and  Socinians  among  us  ;  and  they  look  to  it 
as  likely  to  have  influence  on  the  people.  I  have  no  doubt 
but  that  the  work  has,  to  mention  only  one  instance,  had 
great  efficiency  in  keeping  the  notorious  Cooper  from  the 
University.  Do  'exert  yourself  steadily  to  keep  me  from 
falling  through. 

I  have  just  seen  Mr.  Lyle,  and  he  invites  you  to  visit  him. 
The  Theological  Trustees  are  to  hold  a  meeting  at  Hamp- 
den Sydney,  on  Monday,  the  16th  October.  Now  you  must 
set  ont  early  enough  next  week  to  get  here  by  Friday  morn- 
ing. For  on  that  day  we  must  leave  Richmond  for  Prince 
Edward.  There  will  be  enough  for  us  to  do  before  we  meet 
at  Synod.  Therefore  come  with  your  mind  disencumbered 
and  alert ;  and  so  prepared  to  work  efficiently. 

I  hear  that  the  Hopkinsian  crudities  are  to  come  among 
us  from  Tennessee,  and  agitate  the  peace  of  the  Synod. 
Deus  avertat! 

The  Princeton  folk  have  doctored  brother  Speece.  He  is 
now  D,  D.  I  am  glad  of  it.  I  did  not  not  like  to  wear  this 
thing  tacked  to  my  name,  like  two  packs  on  the  back  of  a 
strolling  pedlar,  until  Speece  was  accoutred  in  the  same  way. 
With  him  to  accompany  me,  I  shall  do  tolerably  well. 

How  is  my  son  Camp.?  How  is  my  sister  Louisa,  and 
all  my  brethren  and  sisters  in  Norfolk  ?  1  want  much  to 
to  know.  Give  my  love  to  all.  Present  me  respectfully  to 
your  mother. 

Yours  lit  semper  et  in  sempiternum. 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR      RICE.  191 

TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD. 

Dear  Mother, 

I  send  you  Gilpin's  Lives  and  the  Pamphleteer,  No.  II. 
I  will  thank  you  to  read  this  last  with  a  keen  and  watch- 
ful eye;  and  tell  me  if  you  can  find  in  it  a  word  or  a 
mode  of  expression  calculated  to  hurt  the  feelings  of  my 
Episcopal  brethren.  In  the  whole  composition,  I  have 
most  carefully  endeavoured  to  keep  out  a  controversial 
spirit;  and  if  a  shape  has  been  given  to  an  expression,  or 
a  colouring  to  a  sentiment  inconsistent  with  fraternal  love, 
it  has  been  contrary  to  my  wishes,  and  is  thus  far  a  failure 
in  the  fulfilment  of  my  intentions.  But  on  a  reperusal, 
Avith  prayer,  of  the  pamphlet,  I  myself  can  detect  nothing 
which  ought  to  offend.  It  is  my  sincere  desire  to  be  a 
peace-maker,  and  to  promote  that  love  which  ought  to 
characterize  the  disciples  of  our  common  Lord.  And  I 
thought  that  it  w^ould  have  a  happy  effect  to  show  to  other 
christians,  that  while  the  Presbyterians  acknowledge  the 
validity  of  their  baptism  and  ordination,  they  are  so  atten- 
tive to  the  word  of  Christ  and  to  the  order  of  the  gospel, 
that  their  brethren  ought  to  acknowledge  them.  This  is 
the  object  of  those  two  Pamphlets  already  published;  and 
in  the  third,  which  will  in  time  see  the  light,  I  shall  show 
that  the  great  doctrines  of  the  church  held  in  common  by 
christians,  ought  to  make  them  unite  in  one  body  in  holy 
communion,  and  every  office  of  love. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins   in   best   love    to   you   and  Alice,  with 
yours 

Most  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 


192  MEMOIR     OF 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  February  6th,  1821. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  been  waiting  to  see  what  would  be  the  result  of  an 
application  to  the  Legislature  on  behalf  of  Hampden  Sydney 
College,  to  write  to  you,  and  give  a  full  view  of  the  pros- 
pects of  that  institution.  In  the  mean  time,  I  learn,  you 
have  positively  decided  as  to  your  course  in  relation  to  the 
call  addressed  to  you.  My  wishes  were  to  get  you  back 
again;  my  judgment  wavered.  Your  situation  is  of  great 
importance  we  all  know ;  and  every  year  affords  increased 
facilities  to  do  good.  I  trust  that  the  Lord  will  do  every 
thing  for  us,  and  overrule  all  for  his  glory  and  the  good  of 
the  church. 

But  who  shall  succeed  Dr.  Hoge  ?  This  is  a  question 
which  I  fear  will  not  easily  be  decided.  I  do  not  think  that 
our  Synod  will  agree  on  any  man  living  in  their  bounds. 
And  yet  it  is  important  that  the  Synod  and  the  trustees  of 
Hampden  Sydney  should  unite  in  some  suitable  person.  I 
believe  that  we  must  go  out  of  Virginia  to  look  for  one.  Can 
you  not  direct  our  attention  ?  I  have  been  repeatedly  run- 
ning over  in  my  mind  the  members  of  the  last  General  As- 
sembly, to  see  if  there  was  one  in  that  body  that  would  suit 
us.  I  have  again  and  again  thought  of  Fisk  of  Goshen. 
How  would  he  answer,  considering  his  talents,  attainments, 
habits,  (fee?  I  was  very  much  pleased  with  him,  and  next 
to  him  with  Obadiah  Jennings.  Your  position  enables  you 
to  command  a  much  more  extensive  view  than  we  can.  Pray 
let  me  hear  from  you  on  this  matter. 

TO  MR.  WILLIAM  S.  WHITE. 

Richmond,  Aug.  6th,  1821. 
My  Friend  White, 

I  should  have  written  to  you  before  now,  but  really  I  had 

not  time.     I  would   gladly  comply  with  your  request  if  I 


DOCTORRICE.  193 

could,  but  it  would  require  a  volume  to  do  justice  to  the  sub- 
ject.    A  few  remarks  are  all  that  I  can  give  you. 

The  Unitarians  hold  that  they  are  Christians ;  and  are 
very  indignant  if  you  deny  the  name  to  them.  But  they 
deny  every  thing  that  renders  Christianity  a  system  suited  to 
the  condition  of  a  sinner.  First  indeed  they  deny  human 
depravity;  then,  of  course,  the  necessity  of  regeneration,  the 
doctrine  of  justification  by  faith,  of  sanctification  by  the  Spi- 
rit, and  of  divine  influences  in  general.  They  deny  the  di- 
vinity of  our  Lord,  and  the  personality  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
The  doctrine  of  atonement  is  also  of  course  rejected. 

They  undertake  to  prove  that  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity 
is  absurd  ;  and  assuming  it  to  be  so,  they  endeavour  to  show 
that  it  is  not  taught  in  the  Scriptures.  It  would  require  a  large 
book  to  point  out  the  various  devices  by  which  they  endeavour 
to  nullify  the  express  declarations  of  Scripture.  Some  pas- 
sages they  pretend  are  figurative,  some  they  say  are  not  genu- 
ine, on  others  they  put  a  forced  construction,  and  translate 
them  contrary  to  all  the  rules  of  grammar,  and  the  idiom  of 
the  Greek  language. 

To  this  work  of  misinterpreting  they  are  well  trained ;  for 
many  of  them  are  acute  and  learned  men. 

Hence  the  necessity  of  a  learned  ministry — of  a  thorough 
acquaintance  especially  with  the  Greek  language,  with  the 
history  of  the  text,  with  various  readings,  with  biblical 
criticism. 

As  for  the  advantages  of  the  Unitarian  system— it  flatters 
the  pride  of  the  human  understanding,  and  gives  license  to 
the  depravity  of  the  human  heart!  But  they  pretend  that 
the  system  is  simple,  that  it  is  intelligible  and  rational— they 
boast  that  it  commends  itself  to  infidels,  and  gains  them  over 
to  the  cause  of  religion  ! !  And  a  hundred  such  things  do 
they  boast. 

AVith  regard  to  the  books  on  this  controversy,  they  are  so 
numerous  that  a  pamphlet  would  scarely  contain  the  cata- 
logue.   The  first  and  most  powerful  against  them  is  the  New 
18 


194  3IEM0IR    OF 

Testament.  As  for  others,  the  most  modern  are  best  suited 
to  the  present  state  of  the  controversy,  of  course.  The  truth 
is,  they  are  a  Proteus-race,  and  change  the  ground  of  attack 
as  often  as  they  can.  They  are  impudent  men  too ;  and 
have  the  face  to  bring  forward  arguments  that  have  been  a 
thousand  times  refuted.  Magee  is  a  very  good  work  ;  so  is 
Jones  on  the  Trinity;  and  Simpson's  Plea.  I  shall  try  to 
make  the  Magazine  useful  in  that  way.  I  think  the  last 
year's  volume  has  in  it  a  number  of  things  worth  reading  on 
the  subject ;  as  also  the  present  series  as  far  as  it  goes.  My 
love  to  all  friends. 

Yours  truly  and  in  great  haste, 

John  H.  Rice. 


TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD. 

Prince  Edward,  Sept.  27th,  1821. 
My  Dear  Mother, 

It  has  been  just  as  I  expected.  I  have  had  no  time  for 
rest  since  I  came  up  to  this  county.  Yet  amidst  constant 
engagements,  and  a  crowd  of  company,  my  thoughts  revert 
to  Richmond,  and  my  dear  people  there ;  and  the  aspiration 
ascends  to  Heaven,  may  God  bless  them  !  You  know  that 
among  all  whom  the  Head  of  the  Church  has  committed  to 
me,  none  are  dearer,  none  higher  in  my  esteem  than  you  and 
yours.  I  have  no  time  now  to  give  expression  to  my  feel- 
ings; but  as  Mr.  White  sets  out  presently  to  Richmond,  I 
could  not  but  send  you  a  little  token  of  my  pastoral  and  filial 
remembrance.  And  you  know  very  well  that  a  slight  thing 
may  be  a  token  of  strong  love. 

My  dear  friends  here  are  enjoying  an  unusual  degree  of 
health.  The  college  seems  to  be  prospering  greatly,  and 
there  is  certainly  a  number  of  as  promising  young  men  col- 
lected here  as  I  have  ever  seen.  They  appear  too  to  be  well 
trained,  and  I  do  hope  will  make  useful  citizens.  This  yon 
may  well  suppose  affords  great  pleasure  to  one  who  takes  as 


DOCTOR     RICE.  195 

lively  an  interest  as  I  do  in  the  literature  of  Virginia.  But 
there  is  much  yet  to  be  done  to  bring  into  full  exercise  th£ 
capacities  with  which  Heaven  has  endowed  our  young  coun- 
trymen. There  is  a  great  want  of  literary  associations  to 
keep  up  and  increase  the  impulse  given  at  college.  Hence, 
almost  universally,  our  educated  men  degenerate  into  mere 
men  of  business.  They  are  mere  lawyers,  doctors,  divines. 
This  I  think  is  the  great  reason  why  the  men  of  the  North 
are  above  us  in  point  of  state  literature,  while  they  are  below 
us  as  professional  characters.  But  I  am  running  quite  unex- 
pectedly into  these  speculations.  When  I  communicate  to 
you,  however,  I  just  let  my  thoughts  run  on  spontaneously, 
because  I  fully  confide  in  your  maternal  partialities. 

My  health  is  but  little  if  any  improved.  I  have  been  very 
busy  here,  and  could  take  no  recreation.  I  knew  that  it 
would  be  so.  And  next  week  I  must  turn  homeward.  1 
expect  to  be  in  Richmond  on  Wednesday.  But  I  hear  that 
my  beloved  friend,  Mrs.  Smith,  of  Powhatan,  is  very  sick, 
and  this  may  delay  me  a  day  on  the  way. 

I  am  obliged  to  stop.     Nancy  joins  me  in  dearest  love  to 
you  and  Alice,  and  in  the  request  to  be  kindly  remembered 
to  all  the  friends  who  may  speak  of  us  at  your  house. 
Love  us  as  we  love  you. 

Yours  most  truly  and  forever, 

John  H.  Rice. 

Excuse  enormous  haste. 


TO  MISS  JANE  J.  WATT. 

Richmond,  Nov.  4th,  1821. 
Dear  Jane, 

Your  young  friends,  I  dare,  say  carry  on  an  active  corres- 
pondence with  you,  and  tell  you  all  the  Richmond  news. 
Yet  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  a  line  or  two  from  your  pastor 
will  be  acceptable. 

After  having  heard  what  has  been  doing  among  us,  I  sup- 


196  MEMOIR     OF 

pose  that  you  will  wish  very  much  to  be  here.  We  should 
all  be  delighted  to  see  you.  I  know  that  I  should ;  for  I 
miss  you  in  all  our  little  meetings.  Perhaps,  however,  your 
absence  may  be  turned  to  a  beneficial  account.  If  you  were 
here,  you  would  be  deeply  interested  for  others;  now  you 
have  a  good  opportunity  of  taking  notice  of  yourself.  You 
have  opportunity  in  retirement  of  observing  what  effect  reli- 
gion and  its  various  means  have  had  on  your  temper  and 
conversation.  You  may  particularly  mark  what  are  your 
deficiences,  and  wherein  you  have  failed  to  make  a  good  use 
of  your  privileges.  You  perhaps  will  make  discoveries  of 
an  uncomfortable  nature.  But  they  may  be  salutary ;  and 
you  may  return  to  us  better  prepared  than  ever  to  make  a 
profitable  use  of  the  many  opportunities  afforded  in  Rich- 
mond. Read  your  Bible  much — mingle  prayer  with  all  that 
you  read.  And  converse  much  with  your  own  heart.  Search 
diligently  and  deeply  into  it.  The  doctor  will  tell  you  that 
a  skilful  surgeon  will  probe  an  ulcer  to  the  very  bottom. 
The  disease  of  sin  lies  deep ;  it  infects  our  whole  nature. 
Try  to  apply  religion  to  every  part.  Bring  it  to  bear  on 
your  whole  temper  and  conduct;  and  thus  you  will  be  a  con- 
sistent christian.  That  is  a  truly  noble  character.  O !  let 
us  all  be  consistent  christians. 

I  was  glad  to  hear  by  Harriet  that  you  enjoyed  christian 
society  where  you  are.  I  have  often  heard  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Webb,  and  believe  them  to  be  the  Lord's  people.  If  they 
are,  and  if  we  are,  then  they  and  we  are  brethren  in  Christ 
Jesus,  and  bound  to  love  one  another.  I  am  very  much 
pleased  to  find  that  you  feel  and  acknowledge  this.  I  am 
particularly  anxious  that  all  of  my  dear  little  flock  should 
cultivate  a  liberal  brotherly  spirit,  and  be  above  narrow  and 
sectarian  views.  I  don't  wish  that  any  of  them  should  hang 
closer  to  Presbyterianism  than  to  Christianity. 

Present  my  best  respects  to  Dr.  W —  and  his  lady ;  also 
to  Mr.  Semple  if  you  see  him.  Tell  the  doctor  that  I  take 
a  deep  interest  in  his  spiritual  welfare,  and  that  I  shall  make 


DOCTOR     RICE.  197 

him  a  subject  of  special  prayer  in  secret.  I  have  often  prayed 
for  him,  and  1  will  pray  more  particularly  and  earnestly  than 
ever.  Ask  him  to  join  me  morning  and  evening.  Dear 
Jane,  may  God  bless  you,  and  keep  you  as  in  the  hollow  of 
his  hand ;  use  you  for  his  glory,  and  prepare  you  for  his 
kingdom. 

Your  affectionate  pastor, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 

Richmond,  December  5th,  1821. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  received  a  letter  last  evening  from  a  gentleman  in  Bruns- 
wick county,  which  has  made  me  exceedingly  anxious  in- 
deed to  engage  the  services  of  a  zealous  active  missionary. 
The  case  is  this.  We  have,  as  we  have  been  able  to  employ 
them,  sent  Missionaries  into  Brunswick  county,  and  its  vicin- 
ity, one  of  the  most  deplorably  destitute  parts  of  old  Virginia. 
Gradually  a  good  effect  has  been  produced  by  their  labours. 
The  last  man  employed  by  us  was  Mr.  King,  from  your 
place.  He  has  just  finished  his  mission,  and  gone  on  to 
Carolina.  He  set  the  people  to  work  to  employ  a  preacher 
themselves.  The  letter  mentioned  in  the  beginning  is  from 
a  Mr.  Drummond,  informing  me  that  a  subscription  is  very 
nearly  filled  to  the  amount  of  four  hundred  and  eighty  dollars, 
for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  salary  of  a  Missionary  for  a 
year.  Mr.  King  in  his  report  says  that  he  has  no  doubt  but 
that  a  suitable  man  would  be  well  received,  and  that  three 
little  Presbyterian  churches  could  be  organized  in  a  few 
months,  if  the  impressions  now  made  could  be  kept  up.  This 
would  be  like  planting  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  a  heathen 
land.  Do,  if  you  know  of  a  man  who  would  suit,  let  me 
hear  from  you  immediately.  Or  if  you  do  not,  write,  that  I 
may  not  be  kept  in  suspense. 

We  have  some  little  excitement  here  on  the  subject  of 
18* 


198  ME  Mai  R     OF 

religion.  Sabbath  week  we  had  a  communion.  Fifteen 
presented  themselves  to  be  received  on  examination,  and 
two  on  certificate.  1  baptised  six  adults;  two  were  educated 
Baptists,  three  Quakers,  and  one  nothing  at  all.  Eight  or 
ten  more  are  under  serious  impressions,  and  will  come  for- 
ward, I  expect,  at  next  communion.  These  are  drops.  Lord 
send  us  a  copious  shower ! 

Mrs.  Rice  and  her  father  had  an  almost  miraculous  escape 
from  death  the  other  day.  They  were  coming  from  the 
Main  street  home  in  the  evening,  and  while  rising  the  hill  to 
my  house,  the  horse  became  choked  by  the  collar,  wheeled 
aside,  and  fell  breathless  and  senseless  down  a  precipice  about 
fifteen  feet,  head  foremost,  and  gig,  and  riders,  and  all  went 
down  together.  Yet  not  a  bone  was  broken,  nor  any  seri- 
ous hurt  inflicted.  The  old  Major  went  home  in  two  days. 
And  Mrs.  Rice  scarcely  feels  any  inconvenience  from  the 
fall.  We  have  passed  up  that  hill  an  hundred  times,  and  have 
never  thought  of  Providence.  But  this  event  shows  us  what 
Providence  can  do ;  and  makes  us  deeply  feel  for  the  pre- 
sent our  dependance  and  our  obligations.  May  we  never 
forget  again. 

Mrs.  R.  joins  in  much  love  to  you,  Mrs.  A.  and  the  chiU 
dren.     Give  my  love  to  the  Princeton  doctors. 
With  unabating  affection, 

Jno.  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  December  20th,  1821. 
Rev.  Sir, 

This  will  be  handed  to  you  by  Mr.  *  *  who  wishes  to  be 
received  as  a  member  of  the  Institution  at  Andover. 

It  is  very  highly  gratifying  to  us,  although  particularly 
connected  with  another  Institution,  to  learn  that  Andover 
flourishes.  When  I  contemplate  such  a  school  of  the  pro- 
phets, rising  up  under  the  very  walls  of  the  strong  fortress 


DOCTOR      RICE.  199 

of  heresy,  and  prospering  beyond  the  expectations  of  its 
warmest  friends,  I  am  constrained  to  say,  What  hath  God 
wrought ! 

We  to  the  south  ought  to  join  with  our  northern  brethren  in 
rendering  thanks  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  for  this 
favour ;  for  Andover  is  a  blessing  to  us  as  well  as  to  them. 
One  of  your  young  men  (Mr.  L*  *)  is  now  sitting  at  my  side, 
writing,  I  believe,  to  you.  He  is  a  Missionary  in  the  employ 
of  the  Young  Men's  Missionary  Society  of  Richmond. 
For  the  winter  he  is  stationed  in  the  city.  I  find  him 
zealous  and  laborious,  and  he  does  not  labour  in  vain.  Good 
has  already  been  done  through  his  instrumentality,  and  I 
trust  that  he  will  be  made  extensively  useful.  The  prospect 
in  Richmond  is  more  encouraging  than  usual.  At  our  last 
communion  fifteen  applied  for  admission  to  church  privileges ; 
and  I  expect  a  similar  application  from  about  the  same  num- 
ber. O  may  these  droppings  be  precursors  of  a  copious 
shower  1  Dear  sir,  pray  for  us  ;  and  bespeak  in  our  behalf 
an  interest  in  the  prayers  of  all  your  brethren.  A  general 
revival  of  religion  in  Richmond  is  a  matter  of  unspeakable 
importance.  It  would  have  a  powerful  bearing  on  the  reli- 
gious interests  generally  of  this  great  state. 

I  wish  promptly  to  obtain  any  new  work  of  importance 
on  the  Unitarian  controversy,  or  on  the  general  subject  of 
Biblical  Criticism ;  but  my  means  of  obtaining  literary  in- 
formation are  limited ;  and  when  I  hear  of  a  new  work,  it 
often  takes  a  long  time  and  great  expense  to  procure  it. 
Can  you  afford  me  any  facilities  in  this  way  ? 

You  see,  my  dear  sir,  that  I  make  free  with  you  as  a 
brother  in  Christ.  I  do  not  wish  to  lay  any  unreasonable 
tax  on  you.  I  just  frankly  state  my  situation  and  my 
wants,  and  ask  of  you  to  render  such  assistance  to  me, 
both  as  a  student,  and  a  conductor  of  a  religious  magazine, 
as  it  may  be  in  your  convenience  to  aflford. 

I  shall  be  happy  to  hear  from  you,  when  your  oflficial 


200  MEMOIR     OF 

duties  will  permit  you  to  write ;  and  I  ask  an  interest  in 
your  prayers. 

With  esteem  and  christian  regards, 

I  am  your  fellow-servant, 

John  H.  Rice. 

In  conducting  the  magazine,  he  had  been  very  desirous 
from  the  first  to  enlist  the  talents  of  as  many  laymen  as 
he  could  find  willing  to  aid  him  in  his  work,  and  he  naturally 
felt  particularly  anxious  to  engage  the  pen  of  his  friend 
Mr.  Wirt,  who  had  proved  his  zeal  for  the  cause  of  letters 
by  his  British  Spy  and  Old  Bachelor,  and  who,  he  knew, 
had  some  regard  for  the  cause  of  religion  ;  but  that  gentle- 
man, who  was  now  Attorney  General  under  Mr.  Mon- 
roe, had  always  pleaded  his  excessive  occupation  in  bar  of 
his  friend's  claim  upon  him ;  and  with  some  reason.  At 
length,  however,  some  pieces  appeared  in  the  numbers  for 
September,  and  October,  of  1821,  entitled,  "Hints  to 
Preachers,"  and  containing  some  pretty  pungent  strictures 
upon  some  of  the  faults  of  clerical  speakers,  which  were 
very  strongly  suspected,  both  by  the  editor  and  his  readers, 
to  have  come  from  his  hand;  but  whether  justly  or  not, 
the  following  letters  from  Mr.  Wirt  himself  may  perhaps 
enable  the  curious  to  determine. 

TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  H.  RICE. 

Washington,  January  21th,  1822. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

You  are  certainly  a  capital  accountant.  I  keep  no  books ; 
and  our  transactions  in  the  epistolary  way  had  been  so  few 
"  and  far  between,"  that  I  had  forgotten  there  was  such  a 
thing  as  a  balance  between  us.  The  truth  is  that  we  are  both 
dray  horses,  I  from  necessity,  and  you  from  choice ;  and 
that  we  really  have  not  time  for  a  regular  or  constant  cor- 
respondence. Here  now  is  Sunday  night — I  have  just  dis- 
missed my  family  and  ought  to  be  preparing  for  bed,  for  it 


DOCTOR     RICE.  201 

is  within  a  few  minutes  of  nine,  and  I  have  to  rise  very 
early  in  the  morning;  but  conscience  has  been  haunting  me 
about  you  ever  since  I  received  your  letter  of  the  4th, 
and  I  wish  to  make  my  peace  with  you  before  I  lie  down; 
so  here's  for  quitting  scores  on  my  part.  I  wish  I  was  a 
gentleman  instead  of  a  dray-horse.  I  sliould  take  great 
delight  in  writing  to  you  and  for  you ;  but  I  have  played 
the  game  of  life  with  so  little  skill,  that  in  my  old  age, 
when  I  ought  to  be  able  to  take  my  rest,  I  have  to  work 
harder  than  I  have  ever  done  before. 

So  you  make  the  people  squeal  with  your  "  Hints  to 
Preachers,"  and  then  you  lay  it  on  me ;  but  I  am  not  much 
surprised  at  the  imputation ;  indeed,  the  moment  I  read  the 
story  of  The  Oysterman,  I  expected  it,  for  I  distinctly  re- 
membered, and  so  did  Mrs.  W.,  my  having  told  that  story 
to  you ;  but  I  had  the  story  in  Orange,  from  James  Bell,  a 
brother  chip,  who  has  long  since  removed  to  Kentucky; 
and  the  preacher  of  whom  he  told  it  was  old  Aaron  Bled- 
soe, (pronounced  Bletcher,)  a  Baptist,  who  was  called 
old  Aaron  Bletcher  in  1792,  whereas  your  correspondent 
is  supposed  to  tell  it  of  a  Presbyterian.  I  believe  if  your 
readers  who  have  been  pleased  to  father  these  hints  on 
me,  could  see  the  manner  in  which  my  professional  and 
official  duties  engross  me,  morning,  noon,  and  night,  they 
would  acquit  me,  and  look  elsewhere  for  the  author.  So  I 
suppose  they  have  pulled  another  old  house  on  my  head,  or 
rather  half  a  dozen  of  them ;  and  I  shall  have  the  episcopal 
bulls  fulminated  at  my  devoted  head;  and  the  modern 
Milton,  whoever  he  may  be,  seizing  me  by  the  nape  of  the 
neck,  and  hurling  me  many  fathoms  deep,  &c.  &c.  On 
the   contra  side,  however,  there  is,  it  seems,  a  iiiodicum, 

(or  as  D C is  fond  of  saying,  an  aliquot  part,) 

of  praise;  "whereupon,  this  defendant,  neither  admitting 
nor  denying  the  allegations  in  the  bill  made,  calls  upon  the 
complainants  to  make  full  proof  thereof,  in  every  particu- 


202  MEMOIR     OP 

lar,  <fec.  Slc.  &c."  1  will  tell  you,  however,  in  your  ear, 
that  I  do  not  feel  myself  much  complimented,  as  a  writer, 
by  the  ascription;  this,  you  see,  is  modest — therefore  I 
I  would  not  have  it  repeated,  lest  it  should  be  charged  to 
affectation.  One  word  more.  If  the  Hints  to  Preachers 
were  calculated  to  do  good,  your  Hints  to  Hearers  will 
obliterate  the  effect;  for  the  preachers  will  consider  you  as 
taking  up  the  cudgels  in  their  cause,  and  imputing  the  criti- 
cisms of  the  Layman  to  a  wicked  and  perverse  spirit,  and 
not  to  any  demerits  in  the  preachers.  I  know  you  do  not 
say  so ;  but  the  weak  and  wounded  will  make  no  such  dis- 
crimination; they  will  consider  you  as  their  champion  at 
large,  and  as  refelling  all  the  positions  of  the  Layman. 
Mark  if  this  be  not  the  consequence. 

With  respect  to  the  eight  8vo  pages,  if  you  will  let  me 
draw  on  Holingshead  and  the  Harleian  Miscellany,  &c.  ay ; 
otherwise,  I  cannot  promise.  You  must  give  me  leave  to 
tell  you  that  I  think  the  literary  department  of  your  maga- 
zine might  be  improved;  it  wants  some  lightening  here. 
The  evangelical  department,  and  all  the  rest  of  it  is,  me 
judice,  very  good;  but  the  literary  department  does  not 
shine  as  it  might  have  been  expected  to  do  in  the  hands  of 
such  an  editor.  But  you  cannot  attend  to  every  thing ;  I 
know  it;  but  where  is  Mr.  Speece  with  his  great  mind? 
and  your  Hoge,  <fec.  &c.  &:c.  If  you  wish  your  magazine 
to  travel  beyond  the  Presbyterian  circle  of  good  christians, 
you  must  give  it  more  sail,  and  a  gallant  streamer,  with  at 
least  one  long  Tom  on  the  bows,  to  fire  a  salute,  if  for  no 
other  purpose.  As  it  is,  it  is  a  grave  and  excellent  chris- 
tian repository,  full  of  sound  and  vigorous  disquisition,  well 
calculated  to  enlighten  the  mind,  and  improve  the  heart; 
and  so  much,  and  as  much  more  as  you  think  I  can  with 
a  safe  conscience,  I  am  willing  to  certify,  in  concurrence 
wit'i  the  learned  gentlemen  you  mention,  or  without  them. 
So  let  me  see  the  recommendation,  and  I  will  return  it  with 


DOCTOR     RICE.  203 

my   concurrence.      Our  love  to  Mrs.  Rice,   Harriet,    and 
yourself,  and  farewell. 

Yours  in  good  truth, 

William  Wirt. 

TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  H.  RICE. 

Washington,  February  1,  1822, 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Your  letter  of  the  31st  ult.  is  just  received  at  5  P.  M.  for 
I  have  just  returned  from  the  President's.  I  feel  the  blush 
of  genuine  shame  at  the  apparent  presumption  of  adding  my 
name  in  favour  of  the  magazine  to  that  of  the  eminent  gen- 
tlemen at  Princeton.  This  is  real  and  unaffected — but  you 
desire  it — and  I  dare  follow  your  beck  in  any  direction. 
Would  that  I  could  in  one  still  more  important. 

Holingshead's  History  of  Duncan  of  Scotland,  is  under 
copy  by  my  Elizabeth  (my  daughter,  once  your  pet)  for  the 
purpose  of  showing  the  full  basis  of  Shakspeare's  Macbeth. 
I  think  you  will  be  pleased  with  it — and  the  readers  of  Shaks- 
peare  must  differ  much  from  me,  if  they  do  not  find  it  very 
interesting. 

If  you  suppose  from  what  I  said  of  nine  o'clock  that  that 
is  my  hour  of  going  to  bed  on  week-day  nights,  you  are  mis- 
taken by  several  hours.  For  some  time  past,  I  have  been 
obliged  to  be  in  my  office  before  breakfast,  and  till  nine  or  ten 
o'clock  at  night,  when  I  have  to  come  home,  take  my  tea, 
talk  over  family  affairs,  and  get  to  bed  between  eleven  and 
twelve ;  but  it  is  killing  me  also.  And  as  death  would  be 
most  extremely  inconvenient  to  me  in  more  respects  than 
one,  at  this  time,  I  shall  quit  that  course  of  operations,  and 
look  a  little  to  my  health,  if  I  can  survive  the  approaching 
Supreme  Court — sed  qusere  de  hoc. 

My  troubles  not  being  already  enough,  in  the  estimation 
of  the  honourable  body  now  assembled  in  the  capitol,  they 
are  beginning  to  institute  inquiries,  for  my  better  amusement, 
into  the  circumstances  of  three  fees  paid  me  by  the  govern- 


204  MEMOIR     OF 

merit,  in  the  course  of  the  four  years  that  I  have  been  here, 
for  professional  services  foreign  to  my  official  duties — a  thing 
which  has  been  continually  done  at  all  times,  under  this  go- 
vernment, but  which  they  affect  to  think  a  new  affair  en- 
tirely, and  only  an  additional  proof  among  ten  thousand 
others  of  the  waste  of  public  money,  by  the  rapacity,  if  not 
peculation,  of  those  in  office.  I  am  sick  of  public  life;  my 
skin  is  too  thin  for  the  business  ;  a  politician  should  have  the 
hide  of  a  rhinoceros,  to  bear  the  thrusts  of  the  folly,  igno- 
rance, and  meanness  of  those  who  are  disposed  to  mount 
into  momentary  consequence  by  questioning  their  betters, 
if  I  may  be  excused  the  expression  after  professing  my 
modesty.  "  Tliere's  nought  but  care  on  every  hand;'*  all,  all 
is  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit,  save  religion,  friendship, 
and  literature. 

I  agree  that  your  story  of  the  Oystertnan  is  the  best,  but 
I  suspect  that  the  Orange  story  is  the  true  original.  I  knew 
old  Bletcher :  he  was  a  Baptist  preacher ;  and  although  I  did 
not  hear  the  words,  they  are  so  much  in  his  character  that  I 
verily  believe  them  to  have  been  uttered  by  him;  and  it  would 
have  been  quite  in  his  character  too  to  have  gone  on  with  the 
amplification  you  suggest. 

I  do  sincerely  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  mount  the 
aforesaid  gay  streamer,  and  long  Tom,  on  your  gallant  little 
barque.  I  will  try  in  the  spring  and  summer  to  contribute  a 
stripe  or  two,  and  a  blank  cartridge  or  so ;  but  I  shall  not 
tell  you  when  I  do,  that  it  is  I,  for  it  is  proper  you  should 
have  it  in  your  power  to  say  truly,  "  I  do  not  know  who  it 
is."  I  have  already  got  credit  for  much  that  I  never  wrote, 
and  much  that  I  never  said.  The  guessers  have  an  uncom- 
mon propensity  to  attribute  all  galling  personalities  to  me, 
all  sketches  of  character  that  touch  the  quick,  and  make 
some  readers  wince.  I  have,  in  truth,  in  times  gone  by, 
been  a  little  wanton  and  imprudent  in  this  particular,  and  I 
deserve  to  smart  a  little  in  my  turn.  But  I  never  wrote  a  line 
wickedly  or  maliciously.     There  is  nothing  in  the  Spy  that 


DOCTOR     RICE. 


205 


deserves  this  imputation,  and  nothing  in  the  Old  Bachelor, 
which,  give  me  leave  to  tell  you,  "  vejiia  deter  verbo,''  you 
and  your  magazine,  and  your  writer,  **  have  underrated. 
There  is  a  juster  criticism  of  it  in  the  Analectic  Magazine — 
but  this  writer,  too,  has  not  true  taste  nor  sensibility.  He 
accuses  me  of  extravagance  only  because  he  never  felt,  him- 
self, the  rapture  of  inspiration.  And  you  accuse  me  of  re- 
dundant figure,  because  you  are  not  much  troubled  yourself 
with  the  throes  of  imagination — just  as  G —  H —  abuses 
eloquence  because  there  is  no  cord  in  his  heart  that  responds 
to  its  notes.  So  take  that.  And  if  you  abuse  me  any  more, 
1  will  belabour  your  magazine  as  one  of  the  heaviest,  dullest, 
most  drab-coloured  periodicals  extant  in  these  degenerate 
days.  What!  shall  a  Conestoga  waggon-horse  find  fault 
with  a  courser  of  the  sun,  because  he  sometimes  runs 
away  with  the  chariot  of  day,  and  sets  the  world  on  fire  ? 
So  take  that  again,  and  put  it  in  your  pocket.  But  enough 
of  this  badinage,  for  if  I  pursue  it  much  farther  you  will 
think  me  serious — besides  it  is  verging  to  eleven,  and  the  fire 
has  gone  down.  I  began  this  scrawl  a  litde  after  five — walked 
for  health  till  dark— came  in  and  found  company  who  re- 
mained till  near  ten — and  could  not  go  to  bed  without  a  little 
more  talk  with  you.  But  I  shall  tire  you  and  catch  cold— 
so  with  our  united  love  to  Mrs.  Rice,  my  dear  Harriet,  and 
yourself,  good  night. 

Your  friend,  in  truth, 

Wm.  Wirt. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  February  3J,  1822. 

My  Dear  Sir, 

The  prospect  in  my  congregation  is  encouraging  still. 
There  is  no  very  powerful  excitement,  and  I  confess  that  I 
dread  things  of  that  sort.  But  there  is  much  seriousness, 
and  a  disposition  to  attend  prayer  meetings,  &:c.  We  have 
received  about  twenty,  and  expect  ten  or  twelve  more. 

19 


206  MEMOIR     OF 

We  have  an  Andover  missionary  in  New  Kent  and  Charles 
City,  who  pleases  the  people  exceedingly.  They  are  raising 
a  subscription  there  to  establish  him,  and  the  prospect  is  en- 
couraging. I  think  it  likely  that  Mr.  Curtis  (who  married 
Mr.  Lumpkin's  widow,)  will  settle  in  Brunswick.  Thus 
we  are  moving  forward  a  little. 

Have  you  seen  Dr.  Mason's  sermon,  and  do  you  hear  the 
yelping  of  the  Unitarians?  They  are  better  politicians  than 
we  are.  Our  bitter  denunciations  don't  do  any  good,  and 
much  harm — at  least  so  it  seems  to  me.  Many  of  my 
brethren  think  me  too  soft  and  milky ;  and  rather  reproach 
me  for  it.    How  does  this  case  seem  to  you?" 

TO  MRS.  JUDITH  M.  SMITO. 

Richmond,  Feb.  2\st,  1822. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  am  sure  that  you  will  be  delighted  to  hear,  that  the  pros- 
pects of  religion  are  more  encouraging  in  the  congregation 
than  they  have  been  perhaps  at  any  time.  I  sometimes  am 
almost  persuaded  that  we  are  going  to  have  a  great  revival 
here.  To  be  sure,  the  present  excitement  may  all  pass  away 
like  the  morning  cloud,  or  the  early  dew.  And  often  I  very 
greatly  fear  that  this  will  be  the  case  ;  we  are  so  utterly  un- 
worthy of  so  great  a  blessing.  Yet  we  have  great  reason  to 
be  thankful  for  what  the  Lord  has  done.  We  were  not  worthy 
of  that;  nor  of  the  least  crumb  of  mercy;  but  still  the  good 
God  has  blessed  us  with  a  number  of  additions  to  the  church. 
I  think  about  thirty  since  the  middle  of  November.  And, 
take  them  all  together,  they  make  a  number  of  as  hopeful 
converts  as  I  have  ever  seen.  They  are  principally  young 
people — the  lambs  of  the  flock,  whom  the  good  Shepherd  is 
accustomed  to  take  and  carry  in  his  bosom.  O  may  all  these 
be  kept  in  safety!     Remember  us  all  in  your  prayers  ! 

I  constantly  regret,  that  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  the  few 
about  you  are  so  ar  removed  from  the  fold  to  which  you  be- 
long.    Still,  however,  you  are  not  out  of  the  fold  of  Christ ; 


DOCTOR     RICE.  207 

not  from  under  the  care  of  the  Shepherd  of  Israel,  who  never 
slumbers  over  his  flock,  and  never  loses  sight  of  one  of  his 
sheep;  but  gives  to  them  eternal  life,  and  allows  none  to 
pluck  them  out  of  his  hand.  When  I  wrote  above  that  he 
carries  the  lambs  in  his  bosom,  I  thought  among  others  of 
my  dear  Mary  and  Judy.  But  there  is  a  passage  connected 
with  this,  which  I  thought  of  in  delightful  application  to  you. 
He  gently  leads  those  that  are  burdened.  The  weight  of 
cares  and  sorrows  that  lies  upon  you,  rushed  into  my  me- 
mory; and  I  thought  in  my  mind  I  could  see  the  good  Shep- 
herd holding  you  by  the  hand,  and  conducting  you  with  all 
his  gentleness  and  tenderness,  along  the  rough  and  thorny 
path  which  you  have  to  travel.  My  dear  friend,  lean  on 
him — lean  on  him  with  confidence  ;  he  loves  to  be  trusted, 
and  never,  no,  never,  forsakes  those  who  depend  on  him.  I 
am  persuaded  that  we  are  very  prone  to  do  injustice  to  our 
Saviour.  We  do  not  believe  that  he  is  as  compassionate,  as 
kind,  as  tender,  as  forgiving,  as  willing  to  receive,  and  as 
ready  to  help  us,  as  he  really  is.  And  as  for  our  un worthi- 
ness, he  knows  its  full  extent  ten  thousand  times  better  than 
we  do.  Yet  he  invites  us  to  look  to  him,  and  to  cast  all  our 
care  upon  him.  When  we  read  that  Christ  came  into  the 
world  and  died  to  save  sinners,  and  yet  say  that  we  are  too 
unworthy  to  go  to  him,  it  is  just  as  tliough  I  should  say  to  a 
beggar  at  ray  gate,  "  Come  in,  and  I'll  give  you  a  plenty  of 
food,"  and  he  should  reply,  ''  I  am  too  hungry  to  come  in, 
and  eat  of  your  provisions."  Why,  is  not  that  the  very  rea- 
son why  he  should  come  in?  So,  our  unworlhiness  is  the 
very  reason  why  we  should  go  to  Christ.  If  he  had  not 
come  to  save  sinners,  the  case  would  be  a  very  different  one. 
If  the  invitation  were  to  run  in  these  words; — "  All  ye  that 
deserve  my  favour,  come  and  trust  me," — who  would  dare  to 
make  application  ?  But  our  Saviour,  when  he  gives  his  in- 
vitations, does  not  say  a  word  about  worth.  But  he  speaks 
of  the  weary,  the  heavy-laden,  the  sick,  the  poor,  the  blind, 


208  MEMOIR     OF 

the  helpless,  the  lost.     Oh !  my  friend,  he  is  a  precious 

Saviour.     Trust  him  forever. 

Nancy  joins  me  in  most  affectionate  regards  to  yourself, 

our  dear  Mary,  and  all  the  family;  and  in  prayers  that  the 

best  blessings  of  Heaven  may  rest  on  you.     Give  our  love 

to  the  Fon thill  family,  and  our  respects  to  Mr.  McJimsey. 

Heaven  bless  you  forever. 

Yours  assuredly 

John  H.  Rice. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  (1822  )  we  find  him  planning 
a  journey  to  the  North,  as  far  as  Andover,  in  Massachusetts, 
chiefly  in  order  to  make  aiTangements  for  the  more  regular 
supply  of  missionaries  for  the  service  of  our  state.  But  his 
views  are  more  fully  stated  in  the  following  letter  to  his  cor- 
respondent in  Norfolk,  who  had  invited  him  to  visit  that 
place,  to  preach  an  opening  sermon  in  the  new  church  whicli 
had  just  been  built  in  the  town  of  Portsmouth,  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  river. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ. 

Richmond,  April  ISth,  1822. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  just  received  your  favour,  and  haste  to  reply  to  it. 
I  do  from  my  heart  rejoice  tliat  the  Lord  has  prospered  your 
efforts,  and  that  you  are  about  to  open  a  new  church  in  Ports- 
mouth. How  gladly  I  would  be  with  you  if  I  could,  I  have 
no  words  to  express.     But  hear  how  I  am  situated. 

On  the  second  of  May  I  must  be  at  Presbytery,  in  Prince 
Edward;  and  on  the  13th  of  May  I  must  be  at  Princeton, 
to  attend  the  examination  of  the  Theological  Seminary.  This 
duty  it  is  important,  and  indeed  T  may  say  indispensable, 
that  I  should  discharge,  as  a  particular  service  is  allotted  to 
me  on  that  occasion.  Now  I  cannot  attend  at  Norfolk,  at 
the  time  specified  by  you,  and  yet  be  in  Princeton  on  the 
13th.  If  you  can  get  my  brother  to  go  down,  he  will  serve 
you  as  well  as  I  can. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  209 

I  have  a  number  of  important  plans  in  view  on  my  trip  to 
the  North.    I  must  get  my  brethren  to  co-operate  with  me. 

The  Presbyterian  cause  is  sinking  in  Virginia.  Six  years 
ago  we  had  seventeen  active  and  able  ministers  in  our  Pres- 
bytery ;  it  has  pleased  God  to  remove  three  of  them  by  death, 
Hoge,  Lacy,  and  Kennon ;  and  others  have  gone  from  us. 
We  have  now  only  thirteen  ordained  ministers,  and  of  these 
three  are  quite  aged  men  who  in  the  course  of  nature  will 
soon  be  laid  aside  :  three  others  are  of  no  efficiency.  Brother 
Cowan  is  going  to  leave  us  soon;  and  in  fact  we  seem  to  be 
going  down  rapidly.  But  while  this  is  the  case,  there  is 
more  kindly  feeling  towards  Presbyterianism  in  Virginia, 
than  there  ever  was  before.  In  fact  there  is  greater  encou- 
ragement to  make  exertions  than  I  ever  knew.  It  is  neces- 
sary that  we  should  arouse,  and  make  a  new  effort.  I  am 
going  to  the  North  to  endeavour  to  make  arrangements  for  a 
better  and  more  regular  supply  of  Missionaries.  I  shall  of 
course  be  at  Princeton.  From  the  General  Assembly  I  in- 
tend to  get  a  commission  to  go  to  the  Associations  of  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts,  and  as  far  as  Andover.  My 
object  in  all  is  to  promote  religion  in  Virginia.  Now  I  have 
reason  to  believe  that  by  such  a  visit  I  can  secure  a  regular 
supply  of  as  many  Missionaries  as  we  can  support.  But  it 
is  necessary  that  some  plans  should  be  laid  beforehand. 
Something  ought  to  be  gotten  from  the  people  to  whom  Mis- 
sionaries are  sent;  the  churches  ought  to  associate  more  than 
they  do. 

Can  you  not  go  to  Presbytery,  and  help  us  ?  I  pray  you 
do  so.  Give  my  love  to  Mr.  Russell,  and  tell  him  he  must 
be  sure  to  come  up.  We  must  work  together  more  than 
ever.  During  my  long  absence  to  the  North  you  must  stir 
?jp  yourself,  and  help  to  support  the  magazine. 
Love  to  Camp,  and  all  the  brethren. 

Yours  most  truly,  but  in  horrid  haste. 

John  H.  Rice. 


19* 


210  MEMOIR      OF 

He  set  out,  accordingly,  early  in  May,  for  Philadelphia, 
where  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the  General  Assembly,  as 
a  delegate  from  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  business  of  the  body ;  preaching  as  usual 
on  Sundays  in  different  churches.  The  following  letters 
give  us  some  interesting  glimpses  of  him  while  he  was  in 
the  city,  and  afterwards  as  he  was  on  the  road. 

TO  MRS     JEAN  WOOD. 

Philadelphia,  May  2Sth,  1822.  . 
My  Beloved  Mother, 

This  is  the  very  first  day  that  1  have  been  able  to  call  my 
own  since  I  left  home.  I  have  thought  of  you  ten  thousand 
times,  and  prayed  for  you,  and  loved  you,  and  wished  that 
you  would  write  to  me,  and  in  fact  done  every  thing  that 
love  could  dictate  but  write  to  you;  and  that  was  omitted 
only  because  I  had  not  time  before  now. 

I  came  from  home  as  fully  determined  as  I  ever  was  in 
my  life  to  keep  out  of  the  heavy  business  of  the  Assembly. 
But  when  I  saw  the  meeting  of  that  venerable  body,  and 
found  tliat  nearly  three-fourths  were  young  members,  and 
of  the  rest  that  a  considerable  proportion  were  unacquainted 
with  the  routine  of  public  business,  I  was  under  the  neces- 
sity of  taking  hold,  and  working  with  all  my  might.  We 
got  through  our  labours  about  eleven  o'clock  last  night,  and 
now  1  expect  a  day  or  two  of  leisure  before  I  go  to  the 
East  country.  You  are  the  first  of  my  beloved  people  that 
I  seize  this  opportunity  of  writing  to. 

The  business  of  our  General  Assembly  has  gone  through 
with  great  harmony,  and  more  satisfactorily  to  me  than  on 
any  former  occasion.  I  think  that  I  can  see  a  manifest  in- 
crease of  christian  temper  among  our  ministers  and  elders ; 
and  I  regard  this  as  an  omen  of  good.  A  truly  christian 
ministry  is  a  great  blessing;  and  an  unchristian  clergy  is  a 
great  curse.     The  better  christians  preachers  are,  the  more 


DOCTOR     RICE.  211 

good  they  will  do  in  the  world.  I  therefore  rejoice  at  what 
I  think  a  manifest  improvement  in  our  church,  and  I  do 
hope  that  all  societies  are  making  progress.  By  the  way, 
Mr.  Keith,  the  Episcopal  minister  of  Williamsburg,  came  to 
see  me  the  last  day  I  staid  at  home ;  and  prevented  me 
from  calling  at  your  house  in  the  morning  as  I  intended. 
He  is  a  charming  man.  I  received  him  as  a  brother,  and 
owned  him  in  the  warm  affection  of  my  breast,  before  I 
was  one  hour  with  him. 

We  have  heard  wonderful  accounts  of  revivals  of  religion 
in  various  parts  of  our  common  country.  In  this  city,  last 
Sabbath,  in  one  congregation,  ninety-five  new  communi- 
cants were  received  at  once ;  and  it  is  believed  that  from 
fifty  to  seventy  in  the  same  congregation  are  now  under 
deep  religious  concern.  That  church  consists  of  nearly  one 
thousand  communicants. 

At  half-past  three  o'clock  last  Sabbath,  I  went  with  father 
Eastburn,  (I  wish  that  you  knew  this  most  excellent  old 
man)  to  his  Sailor's  meeting.  This  church  is  a  saiil-loft, 
near  Market  street  wharf,  capable  of  holding  about  seven 
hundred  persons.  The  house  was  full,  and  I  was  called  on 
to  preach.  I  once,  you  know,  while  living  in  the  country, 
preached  a  part  of  my  time  to  the  black  people.  I  then 
adopted  a  plain  style  of  speaking  suited  to  their  capa- 
city. And  when  I  rose  to  speak  to  the  sailors,  I  recol- 
lected some  of  my  sermons  to  the  black  people,  and  deter- 
mined to  adopt  the  same  plain,  affectionate  manner.  I  saw 
immediately  that  I  had  riveted  their  attention.  And  I  tell 
you  I  have  not  preached  as  much  to  my  satisfaction,  nor 
with  as  much  apparent  effect,  since  I  left  my  own  dear 
people  in  Richmond.  The  hardy  fellows  were  crying  all 
about  me,  and  1  wept  too.  But  I  have  fifteen  yards  to 
write  to  you,  and  you  see  my  paper  is  done.  I  shall 
go  to-morrow  or  next  day  to  Princeton,  where  I  must 
spend  a  week,  and  write  a  magazine.  There  let  me  hear 
from  you,  my  dearest  mother. 


212  MEMOIR      OF 

I  love  a  thousand  people  and  more  in  Richmond,  and  I 
cannot  give  you  names.  As  the  lawyer  said,  ''I  must  sling 
it  to  them  in  a  lump."  But  all  my  party  love  you,  and 
Mrs.  Rice  and  Harriet  expect  me  to  mention  them  most 
particularly  and  affectionately  to  you  and  dear  Alice,  on 
whom  we  pray  ten  thousand  blessings. 
Dear  mother. 

Yours  most  truly  and  forever. 

J.  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD. 

Stratford,  Conn.  June  I4th,  1822. 
My  Dear  Mother, 

I  did  hope  to  have  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  a  letter  from 
you  before  this  time.  And  I  cannot  but  fear  that  the  state 
of  your  health  has  prevented  your  writing.  As  to  the 
ardour  and  constancy  of  your  maternal  affection,  I  cannot 
entertain  a  doubt.  The  idea  of  your  being  sick  in  my 
absence  is  more  painful  to  me  than  you  can  imagine.  But, 
at  the  same  time,  I  know  that  I  am  only  a  feeble  instrument 
in  the  hands  of  our  God,  and  that  he  can  send  blessings  to 
you  by  whom  he  will.  Nevertheless,  I  think  it  a  privilege 
to  be  his  instrument  of  good  to  you  and  yours.  If  he 
hears  my  prayers,  every  blessing  that  you  need  is  every 
day  bestowed  on  you. 

After  leaving  Philadelphia,  I  went  to  Princeton.  But  it 
was  to  labour.  I  had  there  to  make  up  materials  for  the 
June  number  of  the  magazine.  I  had  very  little  time,  of 
course,  to  enjoy  the  society  of  my  excellent  friends  in  that 
place.  And  as  soon  as  I  had  gone  through  with  this  job, 
I  was  obliged  to  set  my  face  to  come  northwardly.  I  spent 
the  last  Sabbath  with  my  valued  friend  Dr.  McDowell,  of 
Elizabethtown,  a  man  whom  I  know  you  would  esteem. 
He  is  so  simple  in  his  manners,  so  warm-hearted  as  a 
preacher,  and  so  affectionate  as  a  pastor.  On  Monday  I 
went  to  New  York,  where  I  had  business  which  kept  me 


DOCTOR     RICE.  213 

three  or  four  days.  In  that  great  city  there  is  a  very  in- 
teresting season  in  a  number  of  the  Presbyterian  churches. 
The  young  people  appear  to  be  much  excited,  and  numbers 
are  professing  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  gospel. 

While  in  New  York,  I  dined  with  Divie  Bethune,  a 
Scotch  friend,  of  whom  you  have  often  heard,  and  whom 
perhaps  you  saw  in  Richmond  last  winter.  He  showed  me 
a  number  of  superb  prints  of  distinguished  persons  which 
he  had  brought  from  England;  and,  among  them,  there  was 
one  of  Miss  Hannah  More.  Now,  you  must  pardon  me, 
my  dear  mother,  for  what  I  am  going  to  say.  But  the  case 
was  this;  the  face  was  shown  me  while  the  name  of  the 
person  was  concealed,  and  the  very  first  thought  that  came 
into  my  mind,  and  the  first  expression  that  I  uttered  was, 
"  That  face  is  very  much  like  my  dear  friend  Mrs. 
Wood's."  And  it  is  really  the  truth,  that  excepting  the 
colour  of  the  eye,  and  the  shape  of  the  mouth,  it  would  be 
an  excellent  likeness  of  you.  The  nose,  the  forehead,  the 
cheek,  and  the  whole  outline  of  the  side  face  are  precisely 
like  yours.  I  gazed  at  it,  and  traced  the  resemblance  with 
very  great  pleasure. 

From  New  York,  we  came  yesterday  in  the  stage  to  the 
land  of  steady  habits.  Of  course,  I  could  see  nothing  of 
the  people.  But  the  country  is  a  very  striking  one. 
There  was  not  a  distance  of  three  miles  in  any  part  of  the 
road,  where  v/e  had  not  a  beautilul  view  of  Long  Island 
Sound.  And  yet,  instead  of  the  dead  level  which  might  be 
expected  so  near  the  coast,  the  aspect  of  the  country  was 
so  rugged,  the  hills  so  numerous,  and  the  rocks  so  innu- 
merable, that  one  used  to  Virginia  would  naturally  have 
supposed  himself  to  be  in  a  region  at  least  two  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  from  the  ocean. 

After  riding  about  seventy  miles,  we  were  very  kindly 
received  by  my  friend  Mr.  Button,  one  of  the  finest  men  I 
have  ever  met  with. 


214  M  EMO  I  R     OF 

We  left  Harriet  in  Princeton :  health  bad.  Mrs.  Rice  is 
well,  and  joins  me  with  all  her  heart  when  I  say, — The 
Lord  bless  you,  dear  mother,  and  dear  Alice. 

Most  truly  and  forever  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

P.  S.  We  shall  go  to-day  to  New  Haven.  On  Monday 
we  shall  go  to  Tolland.  The  Association  which  I  am  to 
attend  meets  there  next  Thursday.  About  this  day  week, 
we  shall  go  to  Springfield  in  Massachusetts,  but  before  that 
time  I  hope  to  write  to  you  again." 

He  was  now  fairly  in  New  England,  and  for  the  first 
time;  and  mindful  of  his  magazine  behind  him,  very 
happily  conceived  the  idea  of  recording  his  first  im- 
pressions of  the  country  through  which  he  was  passing, 
for  the  entertainment  of  his  readers  at  home.  He  wrote, 
accordingly,  by  the  way,  and  at  different  times  as  he  could, 
"A  Journey  in  New  England,"  which  afterwards  ap- 
peared, in  successive  numbers,  in  his  journal;  and  was 
read  with  much  interest.  It  contains,  indeed,  a  great 
variety  of  judicious  observations  on  the  men,  and  manners, 
and  institutions  of  that  part  of  our  country,  with  some 
graphic  sketches  of  scenery,  which  show  that  he  had  an 
eye  and  a  heart  for  the  beauties  of  nature;  and  is  written 
throughout  in  a  very  agreeable  style.  It  is,  moreover,  like 
his  "  Excursion,"  already  noticed,  very  characteristic;  and 
may,  therefore,  very  properly  furnish  us  with  a  few  short 
passages  of  pleasant  reading,  as  we  go  along  with  him  to 
his  journey's  end. 

From  Stratford,  it  seems,  he  proceeded  to  New  Haven, 
where  he  was  charmed,  of  course,  with  the  beauty  of  the 
city,  with  the  college,  churches,  and  public  square;  and 
fairly  delighted  with  the  spectacle  which  he  had  on  the 
Sabbath  morning,  of  the  whole  population,  as  it  were,  all 
moving  together  across  the  green  to  their  several  houses  of 
worship,  at  the  same  time. 


DOCTOR     R  ICE.  215 

"  New  Haren,"  he  says,  "  is,  at  this  season  of  the  year, 
a  sweet  and  lovely  place.  The  houses  are  principally 
wooden-houses  painted  white,  with  green  window-shutters. 
The  streets  are  generally  shaded  with  long  rows  of  flourish- 
ing elms  and  maples.  And  while  the  population  is  suffi- 
ciently numerous  and  active  to  give  animation  to  the  scene ; 
there  is  not  that  incessant  bustle  and  perpetual  roar  which 
annoy  one  in  great  commercial  cities. 

"  The  college  edifices  are  extended  nearly  the  length  of  an 
entire  square  on  about  the  highest  ground  within  the  city. 
The  ground  slopes  in  front;  and  on  the  opposite  square  stand 
all  the  churches  in  town.  An  Episcopal  and  two  Congrega- 
tional churches,  all  very  handsome  buildings,  stand  in  a  line. 
The  Methodist  place  of  worship,  most  unhappily,  is  placed 
on  the  corner  of  this  square.  Immediately  below  the  Church 
Square,  there  is  a  portion  of  ground  of  the  same  size  entirely 
open,  well  set  with  grass,  and  beautifully  shaded.  A  spec- 
tator, standing  in  front  of  the  college  chapel  on  Sabbath 
morning,  as  the  church-bell  is  ringing,  has  one  of  the  most 
delightfully  animating  prospects  before  him  that  is  to  be  seen 
in  the  United  States.  The  population  of  New  Haven  is 
about  8000  or  10,000;  and  they  are  church-frequenting 
people.  There  is,  too,  a  laudable  punctuality  in  their  attend- 
ance. One,  then,  in  the  situation  just  mentioned,  sees  at 
;0ne  view  the  students  repairing  to  chapel,  and  the  whole 
church-going  population  of  New  Haven,  from  the  patriarch 
of  three  score  and  ten,  to  the  children  of  six  or  eight  years, 
moving  on  to  their  respective  places  of  worship,  and  just 
about  to  join  in  supplications  and  solemn  songs  of  praise  to 
the  Father  of  all.  The  sight  of  three  or  four  thousand  hu- 
man beings,  with  all  the  ideas  and  feelings  associated  with 
this  sight,  is  overpowering.  Nothing  in  the  scenes  of  inani- 
mate nature  can  be  compared  with  it.  The  sun  will  finally 
be  darkened,  the  moon  be  turned  into  blood,  and  the  heavens 
be  rolled  awav  as  a  scroll ;  the  last  fires  will  wither  and  con- 


216  MEMOIR     OF 

sume  every  form  of  earthly  beauty  and  grandeur ;  but  all 
these  beings  are  immortal,  and  every  individual  soul  outva- 
lues the  material  universe.  To  see  them  all  hastening  to  the 
place  where  God  has  recorded  his  name,  where  the  messages 
of  mercy  are  delivered,  and  the  sinner  is  taught  what  he 
must  do  to  be  saved,  awakens  emotions  of  uncontrollable 
energy.  I  could  scarcely  help  stretching  out  my  hands,  and 
praying  aloud  that  the  Father  of  mercies  might  bless  them. 

"  But  this  spectacle  has  turned  me  aside  from  the  college. 
Of  this  institution  it  would  require  more  room  than  you  can 
spare  to  give  a  detailed  account.  I  can  only  say  that  the 
buildings  consist  of  four  colleges  four  stories  high ;  a  chapel, 
lyceum,  &:c.  &c.;  that  there  is  a  valuable  library  of  about 
7000  volumes  ;  an  excellent  philosophical  apparatus ;  and 
certainly  the  richest  and  most  extensive  collection  of  mine- 
rals in  the  United  States.  Indeed,  there  are  said  to  be  but 
few  superior  to  it  in  the  world. 

*'  The  faculty  at  present  consists  of  a  president  and  nine 
professors.  Besides  these,  there  are  six  tutors,  and  an  assis- 
tant to  the  chemical  professor.  The  students  in  college 
amount  to  about  325,  who  with  the  resident  graduates  and 
medical  students  make  the  whole  number  upwards  of  400. 
The  instittuion,  although  deprived  of  the  valuable  services  of 
Dr.  D wight ,  has  lost  nothing  in  reputation.  Perhaps  it 
is  excelled  by  some  other  colleges  in  all  that  regards  mere 
literature;  but  in  respect  to  science  it  is  probably  superior  to 
any  other  institution  in  our  country. 

"  The  executive  government  of  this  college  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  faculty,  with  the  right  of  appeal  to  the  corporation.  It 
partakes  much  of  a  paternal  character  ;  and  if  one  may  judge 
from  the  order  and  decorum  which  prevail  in  the  chapel,  of 
the  efficiency  of  the  government,  it  may  truly  be  said  that  in 
this  quality  it  is  remarkable.  I  have  no  where  seen  a  con- 
gregation of  three  hundred  worshippers  behave  with  more 
propriety.     It  is  gratifying  to  add  that  there  is  a  church  in 


DOCTOR     EICE.  217 

college  consisting  at  present  of  at  least  one  hundred  mem- 
bers." 

We  may  add,  by  the  way,  that  he  preached  to  the  stu- 
dents, at  this  time ;  and,  we  are  told,  with  much  unction, 
and  happy  effect. 

From  New  Haven  he  proceeded  through  a  pleasant  coun- 
try to  Hartford,  where,  it  seems,  he  was  much  pleased  with 
*'  the  frank,  easy,  and  graceful"  manners  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  greatly  interested  with  a  visit  which  he  paid  to  the 
American  Asylum  for  the  instruction  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb, 
where  the  progress  of  the  pupils  under  the  care  of  the  Eev. 
Thomas  H.  Gallaudet,  and  his  assistants,  appeared  abso- 
lutely wonderful,  and  where  the  talkativeness  of  the  female 
scholars  excited  di  philosophic  speculation. 

*'It  was  truly  delightful,"  says  he,"  to  witness  their  lively  in- 
tercourse with  each  other,  their  tricks  and  jokes,  and  glee,  their 
frequent  arch  smiles,  and  occasional  hearty,  side-shaking 
laughter.  Indeed  I  never  saw  a  happier  school.  Through  the 
politeness  of  the  superintendant,  I  was  permitted  to  go  into 
the  large  room,  where  the  girls  during  a  part  of  every  day 
are  instructed  in  sewing,  knitting,  and  other  branches  of 
household  industry.  Their  fingers  and  arms  while  at  work 
are  exceedingly  nimble,  and  their  motions  very  rapid.  But 
it  was  very  amusing  to  observe  their  disposition  to  talk — 
every  moment  one  might  observe  first  one  and  then  another 
drop  her  work  into  her  lap,  for  the  purpose  of  saying  some- 
thing by  signs  to  her  companion.  It  was  generally  some 
good  natured  joke,  which  created  a  laugh,  and  called  forth  a 
reply.  Often  four  or  five  would  converse  at  once ;  and  some- 
times the  spirit  of  talking  would  be  called  up  in  such  away, 
that  all  would  let  go  their  work  at  once,  and  one  might  see 
a  most  wonderful  movement  of  head--,  fingers,  and  arms 
tossing  in  every  direction  ;  just  as  I  have  observed,  in  a 
large  party  of  fashionable  females,  the  '*  sweet  music  of 
speech"  to  proceed  in  quicker  and  still  quicker  time  and 
20 


218  MEMOIR     OF 

louder  tone,  until  all  became  performers,  and  none  listeners. 
Now  this  fact  completely  confutes  the  philosophy  of  the 
honest  fellow,  who,  in  accounting  for  the  superior  talkative- 
ness of  the  ladies,  long  before  the  days  of  Gale  and  Spurz- 
heim,  attributes  it  to  the  structures  of  the  organs  of  speech. — 

"  Quoth  Thomas,  women's  tongues 
Of  Aspen  leaves  are  made." 

*'  I  am  not  cranioscopist  enough  to  know  where  the  hump 
is  situated  on  the  head,  which  makes  us  talkative  beings ; 
what  connexion  it  has  in  ordinary  persons  with  the  tongue ; 
or  what  is  the  difference  between  this  organ  in  gentlemen, 
and  the  same  in  ladies.  I  would  propose  it,  however,  as  a 
curious  problem  to  the  Phrenological  Society,  what  connex- 
ion the  organ  of  talkativeness  has  with  the  arms  and  fingers 
of  deaf  mutes?" 

From  Hartford,  our  traveller  turned  aside  to  Tolland,  a 
town  about  twenty  miles  to  the  east,  where  the  General 
Association  of  Connecticut  was  to  hold  its  annual  meeting, 
and  which,  it  will  be  recollected,  he  was  bound  to  attend,  as 
a  delegate  from  the  General  Assembly.  He  did  so,  accord- 
ingly, and  with  great  satisfaction ;  for  he  says: 

"  The  Association  is  altogether  made  up  of  ministers  ;  it  is 
merely  an  advisory  council,  without  power  ;  and  is  held  for  the 
purpose  of  consulting  on  the  best  measures  for  promoting  the 
interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  of  giving  advice  to  the 
churches,  and  cultivating  a  spirit  of  brotherly  love  and  co- 
operation among  the  members.  Representatives  of  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  of  the  General 
Associations  of  the  other  New  England  states,  are  accustomed 
to  meet  with  this  body,  and  unite  in  all  their  deliberations. 

"  It  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  of  an  assembly  of  men 
where  a  more  fraternal  spirit  could  be  manifested,  than  was 
exhibited  by  this  body  of  clergy.  Cordial  affection,  mild- 
ness, and  deference  of  one  to  another  reigned  through  the 


DOCTOR     RICE.  219 

whole  meeting.  And  I  think  that  I  have  never  witnessed 
any  where  fewer  tokens  of  ambition,  or  so  little  attempt  at 
display.  Remarkable  respect  and  kindness  were  shown  to 
the  delegates  from  other  ecclesiastical  bodies.  And  there 
seemed  to  be  a  disposition  unfeignedly  to  rejoice  in  the  pro- 
gress of  true  religion,  no  matter  who  were  the  instruments  of 
its  advancement." 

From  Tolland  he  returned  to  Hartford,  and  thence  pursued 
his  way  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  to  attend  the  Associa- 
tion of  Massachusetts  ;  another  venerable  body  with  whose 
learned  and  pious  members,  and  their  kind  and  cordial  re- 
ception of  him,  he  was  greatly  pleased. 

"The  General  Association  of  Massachusetts  met  in 
Springfield,  and  thus  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  the 
representatives  of  the  great  body  of  orthodox  clergymen  in 
this  state.  I  found  them  in  every  important  respect  so  like 
their  brethren  of  Connecticut,  that  I  should  be  unwilling  to 
attempt  to  discriminate  between  them.  The  constitution  of 
the  Association,  too,  and  the  business  which  they  have  to 
transact  are  so  much  alike,, that  I  need  not  enter  into  par- 
ticulars. 1  was,  in  every  respect,  as  much  gratified  here  as 
at  Tolland. 

"  There  is  one  particular  which  I  cannot  help  noticing 
in  this  place.  We  regard  our  Congregational  brethren  as 
Independents;  and  are  ready  enough  to  boast  of  the  supe- 
rior excellence  of  our  form  of  government.  But  1  wit- 
nessed much  in  our  Eastern  friends,  which  seemed  to  show 
that  the  government  which  is  best  administered  is  best.  I 
am,  indeed,  far  enough  from  admitting  that  any  system  of 
ecclesiastical  polity  is  better  than  that  which  I  have 
adopted.  But  theory  is  one  thing  and  practice  is  another. 
Now  I  remarked,  that  in  the  Associations,  both  of  Con- 
necticut and  Massachusetts,  there  was  as  much  diversity  of 
opinion  as  I    have  found  to  prevail  in  other  assemblies; 


220  MEMOIR      OF 

and  every  person  spoke  freely  what  he  thought.  But  after 
a  subject  had  been  discussed,  and  voted  on,  the  will  of  the 
majority  appeared  to  be  the  will  of  all.  There  were  no 
protests,  no  expressions  of  dissatisfaction,  nothing  like  ill- 
humour.  But  the  minority  were,  to  all  appearance,  as 
prompt  to  carry  into  effect  the  measures  adopted,  as  the 
majority.  I  did  not  witness  the  slightest  token  of  an  infir- 
mity very  common  in  this  world ;  I  mean  that  of  opposition 
to  a  man  because  one  is  opposed  to  the  measures  which  he 
supports.  In  this  way,  I  have  often  witnessed,  with  ex- 
treme pain,  a  violation  of  that  charity  which  ought  to  pre- 
vail among  brethren.  Sufficient  allowance  is  not  made  for 
the  diversity  of  views  which  are  taken  by  different  minds. 
One  assumes  that  he  is  right,  and  that  all  that  differ  from 
him  are  not  only  wrong,  but  must  know  that  they  are 
wrong,  and  obstinately  persist  in  error.  On  this  assump- 
tion, generally  unwarranted,  I  have  known  men  to  be 
severely  censured,  and  their  actions  attributed  to  unworthy 
motives.  But  all  was  the  reverse  of  this  among  the  bre- 
thren of  whom  I  now  write ;  and  I  was  really  delighted 
and  edified  to  find  a  spirit  of  hearty,  zealous  co-operation 
among  those,  whom  I  had  been  accustomed  to  think  of  as  a 
body  of  Independents,  held  together  by  no  common  bond. 
"  From  Springfield  we  were  accompanied  by  Col.  J.  C. 

T k,  (a  gentleman,   by  the  way,  whose  hospitality 

would  have  done  honour  to  a  Southern  planter)  on  a  visit  to 
the  new  collegiate  institution  at  Amherst.  On  our  way,  we 
ascended  Mount  Holyoke,  emphatically  called  the  Pisgah  of 
New  England.  I  had  heard  what  I  thought  an  extravagant 
description  of  the  grandeur  and  beauty  of  the  prospect  from 
this  mountain,  and  prepared  myself  for  a  disappointment. 
But  I  was  constrained  to  exclaim,  "  The  half  was  not  told 
me !"  I  could  not  think  of  a  single  object  necessary  to 
clothe  the  prospect  with  perfection  of  beauty,  except  a  view 
of  the  ocean  whitened  with  sails.  But  the  river  Connec- 
ticut winding  in  slow  and  silent  majesty  through  a  vale  of 


DOCTOR     RICE,  221 

great  fertility,  and  in  high  cultivation,  makes  ample  amends 
for  this  sole  deficiency.  The  lands  on  the  margin  of  this 
river,  lying  immediately  under  the  eye  of  the  spectator, 
present  a  scene  of  variegated  and  unrivalled  beauty.  In  a 
wide  extent  of  low  grounds,  one  might  see  adjoining  each 
other  in  immediate  succession,  fields  of  clover  in  full  bloom, 
and  of  flax,  mixing  the  colour  of  its  blue  flowers  with  that 
of  its  green  leaves;  the  deeper  green  of  Indian  corn,  and 
rye  just  beginning  to  turn  yellow;  in  a  word,  the  eye  is 
feasted  with  the  whole  luxuriance  of  vegetation,  and  one 
associates  the  bounlifulness  of  nature  with  the  industry, 
skill,  and  taste  of  man.  In  addition  to  this,  there  is  a  full 
view  of  mountain  scenery,  both  near  and  distant.  And  there 
is  a  fine  contrast  between  the  wild  and  rugged  features  of  the 
neighbouring  mountains,  and  the  well  cultivated  fields  bind- 
ing on  the  river.  To  crown  the  wliole,  one  sees  in  various 
points  of  view,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  lively  and 
flourishing  towns,  with  their  long  rows  of  elms  and  maples, 
and  their  handsome  white  steeples.  Of  these,  twenty-seven 
have  been  counted  from  the  top  of  mount  Holyoke.  These 
objects  gready  heighten  the  pleasure  of  the  spectator.  The 
beauty  of  the  plains,  the  grandeur  of  the  mountain  scenery, 
and  the  wide  extent  of  the  prospect  dilate  the  mind,  and 
fill  it  with  delightful  emotions;  and  then  the  sight  of  so 
many  spires  pointing  to  the  heavens,  and  designating  places 
where  the  living  God  is  worshipped,  and  the  hopes  of  a 
blissful  immortality  are  cherished,  gives  solemnity  to  the 
whole  feeling,  and  turns  the  thoughts  to  that  better,  that 
heavenly  country,  of  which  the  earthly  Canaan  was  but  a 
type.  One  is  reminded  of  the  "pure  river  of  the  water  of 
life,  clear  as  clirystal,"  of  the  "  tree  of  life,"  the  leaves  of 
which  *'  were  for  the  healing  of  the  nations;"  of  the  re- 
moval of  the  curse ;  and  of  all  the  revealed  glories  of  the 
heavenly  inheritance.  Associations  like  these  give  a  higher 
tone   and   purer  character  to   the    feelings;    they  rise   to 

*20. 


222  MEMOIR      OF 

ecstacy ;  and  as  one  turns  to  catch,  if  possible,  the  whole 
scene  at  a  single  view,  he  can  scarcely  forbear  exclaiming 
in  the  language  of  Cowper, — 

"My  Father  made  them  all." 

Returning  from  this  excursion,  he  left  Springfield  on  the 
3d  of  July,  for  Boston,  where  he  arrived  in  the  evening  of 
the  same  day.  The  next  morning,  being  the  anniversary  of 
Independence,  he  was  roused  up,  it  seems,  by  the  thunder- 
ing of  the  bell  of  the  Old  South  Church,  almost  over  his 
head;  (he  was  probably  lodging  with  the  pastor  of  it, 
whose  house  adjoined,)  and  his  journal  proceeds: 

"  At  first  I  thought  there  was  an  alarm  of  fire  ;  and  deter- 
mined to  let  the  good  people  fight  this  enemy  themselves. 
But  I  was  soon  convinced  that  the  first  impression  was  erro- 
neous— "  It  is  the  Fourth  of  July,"  said  I,  and  instantly 
sprung  from  my  bed.  For  the  dawn  of  this  day  always  brings 
such  a  train  of  recollections,  and  awakens  such  deep  emo- 
tions, that  as  soon  as  its  faint  light  peeps  through  my  case- 
ment, I  am  thoroughly  roused.  My  first  business  is  to  give 
thanks  to  the  God  of  the  whole  earth,  for  the  blessings  and 
honours  with  which  he  has  crowned  our  country;  and  the 
next  to  recall  to  remembrance  the  gallant  deeds,  and  glorious 
exploits  of  our  forefathers.  And  here  I  could  not  but  remem- 
ber, that  old  Massachusetts  was  even  with  the  foremost  in 
resisting  the  claims  of  arbitrary  power ;  that  not  far  from  me 
was  the  field  first  stained  with  blood  in  this  contest;  that 
much  nearer  was  the  grave  of  Warren ;  that  this  state  had 
produced  many  men  great  in  council,  and  gallant  in  battle ; 
and  that  in  those  days  of  trial,  Virginia  and  Massachusetts 
were  of  one  heart  and  one  soul : — indeed,  thoughts  coursed 
so  swiftly  through  my  mind,  and  feelings  rose  so  powerfully 
in  my  heart,  that  it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  a  description 
of  the  actual  state  in  which  I  was  placed. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  223 

"After  breakfast,  I  said,  well,  I  will  turn  out  and  see  how 
the  Bostonians  celebrate  the  day  of  Independence.  Some 
account  of  what  I  saw  on  this  occasion  may  not  be  una- 
musing. 

"There  had  been  a  sort  of  levee — (yes  ;  these  descendants 
of  the  old  Puritans  use  the  term,) — there  had  been  a  sort 
of  a  levee  at  the  residence  of  his  Excellency — (I  am  not 
sure  that  I  have  the  court  vocabulary  by  heart,  but  I  will 
avoid  mistakes  if  possible) — I  say,  there  had  been  a  sort  of 
a  levee  at  the  residence  of  his  Excellency  the  Governor, 
where  were  found  his  Honour  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  the 
Honourable  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Honourable 
members  of  Congress,  superior  Militia  Officers,  &c.  &;c.  who 
walked  in  procession  to  the  old  South  Church.  At  the  door  of 
the  church  I  joined  the  procession,  and  we  soon  filled  the 
house  to  overflowing.  In  the  first  place,  a  band  of  musi- 
cians, vocal  and  instrumental,  performed  sacred  music,  (not 
equal  to  what  we  heard  at  Springfield.)  We  next  had  a 
prayer,  on  which  I  shall  offer  no  remark ;  then  followed  pa- 
triotic and  military  music — (don't  think  now  of  Yankee- 
Doodle) — and  finally  an  oration,  by  a  Mr.  Gray.  The 
speech  was  really  well  composed  as  regards  language,  and 
contained  many  excellent  sentiments.  But  it  was  quite  too 
local  for  my  feelings  ;  and  evidently  had  reference  to  a  state 
of  things  among  the  Bostonians,  which  I  did  not  very 
thoroughly  understand.  It  was,  however,  well  received  by 
the  audience  ;  and  the  speaker  sat  down  amidst  thunders  of 
applause.  I,  however,  heard  one  gentleman,  who  sat  near 
me,  exclaim,  "  Boston  folks  are  full  of  notions." 

"  From  the  church  the  crowd  proceeded  to  the  State  House, 
where  had  been  provided  an  excellent  cold  collation,  suffi- 
cient for  five  or  six  hundred  persons.  After  due  honour  had 
been  shown  to  this  provision,  wine  of  no  mean  flavour  was 
served  up,  and  a  number  of  appropriate  toasts,  given  by  his 
Excellency,  his  Honour,  and  various  Honourable  gentlemen. 


224  MEMOIR     OF 

were  drunk,  and  applauded  in  the  customary  manner  of 
stamping  with  the  feet  and  clappi7ig  with  the  hands.  Many 
of  the  toasts,  however,  were  in  one  respect  like  the  speech; 
they  referred  very  particularly  to  the  good  city  of  Boston. 
There  were  several,  however,  who  took  occasion  to  give  sen- 
timents, expressive  of  great  kindness  to  Virginia.  Hilarity 
and  good  feeling  predominated,  without  the  least  appearance 
of  excess.  And  here  I  must  testify  to  the  praise  of  these 
people,  that,  although  I  saw  at  least  thirty  thousand  of  them 
on  this  day,  I  saw  only  one  drunken  man  among  them  all ! 

"After  moderate  indulgence  in  wine,  the  company  dis- 
persed, and  every  man  went  where  it  liked  him  best.  In 
the  evening.  His  Honour,  the  Mayor  of  Boston,  held  a  levee. 
Some  of  our  party  were  desirous  to  wait  on  him,  and  I  ac- 
companied them.  On  arriving  at  the  house,  we  found  it 
crowded  to  overflowing;  but  we  elbowed  our  way  through 
the  crowd,  made  our  bows,  and  passed  our  compliments  to 
the  gentleman  and  lady,  drank  a  glass  of  wine,  partook  of  an 
ice-cream,  and  chatted  the  meanwhile  with  any  who  hap- 
pened to  be  next  to  us ;  and  then  went  to  see  the  exhibition 
of  fireworks  got  up  at  the  expense  of  the  corporation,  in 
honour  of  Independence.  The  envious  moon  shone  with  an 
unclouded  brightness  that  almost  overpowered  the  light  of 
the  fireworks,  which  otherwise  would  have  been  very  bril- 
liant. They  were  exhibited  in  the  large  beautiful  common 
which  lies  in  front  of  the  state  house.  And  here,  as  nearly 
as  I  could  conjecture,  twenty  thousand  persons  were  assem- 
bled to  see  the  sight !  I  cared  nothing  for  the  exhibition, 
but  I  wished  to  see  the  people  ;  and  so  I  walked  through 
the  immense  crowd,  heard  their  good  natured  jokes,  and  en- 
joyed their  hilarity,  and  did  not  return  to  my  lodgings  until 
the  whole  multitude  had  dispersed.  I  never  saw  so  large  an 
assemblage  of  persons  before ;  and  I  rarely  ever  witnessed  a 
scene  of  greater  order  and  propriety.  I  could  not  help  say- 
ing to  myself,  whatever  else  the  Bostonians  may  be,  they  ar© 


DOCTOR    RICE.  225 

very  observant  of  public  decorum.  By  ten  o'clock,  all  was 
still  and  silent  as  though  there  had  been  nothing  to  excite 
the  population  of  the  city." 

After  this,  he  spent  several  days  in  Boston,  rambling  about 
the  town,  and  visiting  the  various  objects  of  curiosity;  par- 
ticularly the  Atheneum  which  naturally  attracted  such  a  lover 
of  books,  and  gratified  him  of  course ;  the  public  schools 
with  the  whole  economy  of  which  he  was  highly  pleased ; 
and  the  churches,  as  far  as  he  had  opportunity — which  leads 
him  to  make  some  remarks  upon  the  controversy  then  going 
on  between  the  orthodox  and  Socinians,  such  as  we  might 
have  expected  from  his  pen. 

From  Boston,  also,  he  made  several  excursions — one  of 
which  was  to  Bunker's  or  Breed's  Hill,  which  he  could  not 
visit  without  emotion  ;  and,  acordingly,  he  says : 

"  While  standing  on  the  height  of  Breed's  hill,  I  could 
not  but  contrast  the  scene  which  then  lay  before  me,  with 
what  had  been  exhibited  when  the  raw  untutored  militia 
men  of  Massachusetts  determined  to  contend  with  the  vete- 
ran troops  of  the  mother  country.  Immediately  before  us 
lay  the  field  of  battle,  now  clothed  with  beautiful  verdure, 
but  then  ploughed  up  by  artillery,  and  stained  with  blood. 
Next  stands  Charlestown,  with  its  handsome  churches  and 
spires  all  peaceful  and  quiet,  with  no  sounds  but  the  hum  of 
industry  and  the  shouts  of  juvenile  gladness ;  but  then,  by  the 
cruel  and  unprofitable  policy  of  the  enemy,  wrapped  in  fire, 
and  shooting  a  mighty  pyramid  of  flame  towards  heaven. 
The  eye  then  rests  on  the  river  Charles,  and  Boston  harbour, 
once  in  full  possession  of  the  enemy,  and  covered  with  their 
vessels  of  war ;  but  now  whitened  by  the  sails  of  our  own  mer- 
chant vessels,  and  all  alive  with  boats  gliding  in  every  direc- 
tion; while  on  the  Charlestown  side  there  lie  the  United 
States'  navy  yard,  and  several  of  the  most  powerful  and  for- 
midable vessels  of  war  ever  built  in  this  country ;  putting  one 


226  MEMOIR     OF 

in  mind  of  the  enterprise  and  gallantry  of  American  seamen, 
and  the  heroic  deeds  of  our  naval  commanders.  Beyond  the 
river,  Boston  rises  in  full  view,  once  garrisoned  by  an  enemy 
and  filled  up  with  a  wretched  population,  who  suffered  every 
indignity  and  privation  that  the  wantonness  and  caprice  of 
power  chose  to  inflict;  but  now  the  abode  of  beauty,  taste, 
fashion,  wealth,  and  luxury;  the  seat  of  literary  and  com- 
mercial enterprise ;  of  rtiuch  that  an  enlightened  christian 
patriot  may  well  rejoice  in,  and  much  that  he  cannot  but 
mourn  over  and  condemn.  For  myself  I  have  a  sort  of  pli- 
ancy of  affection  which  embraces  every  object  of  interest  in 
my  country,  and  as  I  stood  and  looked  at  Boston,  forgetting 
for  the  moment  how  far  off"  was  the  place  of  my  abode,  I 
said  to  myself,  "  Peace  be  within  thy  walls,  and  prosperity 
within  thy  palaces — Because  of  the  house  of  the  Lord  our 
God  which  is  in  thee,  I  will  seek  thy  good." 

He  made  an  excursion,  also,  to  the  school  of  the  pro- 
phets at  Andover;  where  he  admired  the  number  and  ex- 
tent of  the  buildings,  the  monuments  of  the  liberality  of  a 
few  individuals,  among  whom  the  names  of  Bartlet,  Abbot, 
Brown,  and  Phillips^  are  particularly  distinguished — the 
library,  press,  and  all  the  accommodations  ;  which  made 
him  exclaim :  *'  The  institution  is  a  noble  one,  and  does  the 
highest  honour  to  its  founders,  and  to  the  public  spirit  of  the 
citizens  of  Massachusetts.  In  this  particular,  they  do  cer- 
tainly go  beyond  any  others  in  the  United  States,  and  perhaps 
are  not  surpassed  by  any  people  in  the  world."  He  adds 
afterwards :  "  Since  my  visit  to  this  school  of  the  prophets, 
(where,  by  the  way,  I  was  received  with  the  utmost  urbanity, 
and  treated  with  all  the  hearty  kindness  of  christian  brother- 
hood, and  where  I  spent  a  few  days  as  pleasantly  as  I  have 
ever  done  in  my  life,)  I  have  taken  a  deeper  interest  in  its 
prosperity  than  I  ever  felt  before,  and  have  thought  much  of 
the  system  of  theological  education  there  adopted."  Here 
he  makes  some  critical  but  very  friendly  remarks  upon  the 


DOCTOR     RICE.  227 

subject,  (which  however  we  cannot  quote,)  and  concludes 
with  saying:  "  We  left  Andover  with  sorrowful  hearts.  Our 
parting  was  as  that  of  old  friends  who  might  never  meet 
again.  And  I  am  sure  that  I  have  not  bowed  my  knees  to  the 
Father  of  mercies  since  that  time,  without  remembering  the 
Theological  Institution  at  Andover,  its  students,  and  profes- 
sors, in  my  prayers." 

On  his  return  to  Boston,  he  visited  the  University  of  Har- 
vard, where  he  was  very  courteously  received  by  President 
Kirkland  ;  and  was  greatly  pleased,  of  course,  with  its  splen- 
did library — ample  apparatus — and  all  its  various  means  of 
instruction — and  with  every  thing  about  it,  in  fact,  but  its 
unhappy  and  unhandsome  departure  from  the  orthodoxy  of 
its  founders.  He  made  a  flying  trip  also  to  Lexington,  Dor- 
chester, and  some  other  places — charmed  with  all ;  and,  de- 
lighted more  and  more  every  day  vvrith  the  literary  spirit  and 
air  of  Boston,  would  have  gladly  lingered  still  longer  among 
its  hills ;  but  he  was  obliged  to  leave  it  at  last  rather  sud- 
denly; and  proceeding  to  Providence,  and  thence  in  the 
steamer  to  New  York,  was  soon  at  home  again  in  Richmond; 
where  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  during  the  whole 
time  of  his  absence,  which  had  been  more  than  three  months, 
not  one  member  of  his  congregation,  not  even  a  child,  had 
died — and  his  heart  overflowed  with  gratitude  to  God. 

TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD. 

Richmond,  August  Qth,  1822. 
My  Dearest  Mother, 

Your  affectionate  solicitude  for  our  dear  Mrs.  M shall 

not  deprive  you  of  any  pleasure  that  a  hasty  letter  can 
afford.  No !  you  shall  not  wait  until  another  time.  You 
must  not  mistake  this,  however,  for  pure  generosity,  for  I 
must  confess  that  1  write  to  you  partly  because  I  want  you 
to  write  to  me. 

I  cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  feel  your  absence.     But 
doubtless  your    going  was  directed  by   Providence.     You 


228  MEMOIR     OF 

were  sent  to  minister  to  the  afflicted.  God  make  you  a 
a  messenger  of  comfort  to  them,  my  dear  mother!  I  know- 
that  you  have  a  heart  to  feel ;  and  the  sympathy  of  a  chris- 
tian friend  is  truly  comforting.  So,  when  our  dear  sister  is 
distracted  with  care  and  grief,  it  will  be  happy  that  you  will 
be  near,  to  remind  her  of  the  exceeding  great  and  precious 
promises  of  God,  and  the  hopes  of  the  religion  which  she 
professes.  And  all  that  any  of  us  can  do,  is  to  direct  our 
suffering  friends  to  God,  who  is  the  source  of  all  comfort. 

I  have  good  news  to  tell  you.  There  is  a  revival  of  reli- 
gion in  Petersburg  which  promises  much.  The  sacrament 
was  administered  there  last  Sabbath,  and  thirty  new  commu- 
nicants were  added  to  the  church  ;  and  ten  had  been  received 
about  three  weeks  before.  A  number  had  been  brought  un- 
der serious  impressions,  concerning  whom  good  hopes  are 
entertained. 

I  learn  too  that  about  twenty  of  the  students  in  Hampden 
Sydney  College  have  embraced  religion  within  the  last  three 
months ;  and  that  there  has  been  a  large  accession  to  the 
church  in  the  neighbourhood." 

About  the  middle  of  the  following  month,  he  left  Rich- 
mond for  Prince  Edward,  to  attend  the  Commencement  at 
Hampden  Sydney  College,  and  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  Here,  however, 
whilst  he  was  discharging  his  duty,  he  was  taken  suddenly 
ill  with  a  violent  fever  and  ague,  and  carried  to  the  house  of 
his  friend  and  brother-in  law.  Dr.  Morton,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood ;  where  he  lay  dangerously  sick  for  some  time.  In- 
deed the  issue  of  the  attack  was  so  uncertain,  that  it  was 
deemed  proper  to  send  an  express  to  Richmond  for  Mrs. 
Rice  to  come  up  to  him  ;  as  she  did  without  delay.  By  her 
he  received  a  letter  from  his  friend,  Dr.  Miller,  of  Princeton, 
informing  him  that  at  a  late  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  Nassau  Hall,  held  on  the  26lh  of  September,  1822, 
they  had  unanimously  elected  him  President  of  that  Institu- 


DOCTOR      RICE.  229 

tion,  and  had  appointed  a  committee  (consisting  of  Chief 
Justice  Kirkpatrick,  Doctor  McDowell,  and  himself,)  to  in- 
form him  of  his  election,  and  to  take  all  proper  measures  to 
obtain  his  acceptance  of  the  office. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  at  a  late  meeting, 
had  passed  an  act  by  which  they  conveyed  the  Theological 
Seminary  under  their  care,  (and  whose  operations  had  been 
suspended  since  the  death  of  Doctor  Hoge,)  to  the  Presbyte- 
ry of  Hanover,  in  trust  to  hold  the  same  for  the  object  of  its 
founders,  under  its  own  management,  but  subject  to  the  su- 
pervision and  control  of  the  Synod ;  and,  in  obedience  to  the 
call  of  the  Moderator,  the  Presbytery  now  met  in  Prince 
Edward,  on  the  16th  of  November,  1822,  to  accept  the  trust, 
and  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  carrying  it  into 
execution.  Accordingly,  having  resolved  to  reorganize  the 
Seminary,  and  having  appointed  a  new  Board  of  Trustees 
for  it,  they  proceeded  to  make  choice  of  a  Professor,  and, 
having  solemnly  invoked  the  direction  of  Almighty  God, 
unanimously  elected  Doctor  Rice  to  the  office.  Thus,  two 
very  important  and  highly  honourable  appointments  were 
conferred  upon  him,  almost  together,  at  a  time  when  it 
was  impossible  for  him  to  accept  of  either,  and  when  it  was 
still  doubtful  indeed  whether  death  would  not  deprive  him  of 
both. 


TO  MRS.  JEAN  WOOD. 

Prince  Udward,  Dec.  2ith,  1822. 
My  Beloved  Mother, 

I  felt  so  well  yesterday  that  I  entertained  the  hope  of  being 
able  to  write  a  long  letter  to-day.  But  I  am  disappointed. 
1  feel  a  considerable  difference  in  days  yet,  and  this  is  what 
is  called  my  sick  day.  I  feel  it  to  be  uncomfortable.  My 
eyes  are  weak,  my  head  giddy,  my  thoughts  unsteady,  my 
appetite  poor,  and  all  my  functions  deranged.  Yet  my  heart 
cleaves  to  my  friends  with  its  wonted  constancy,  and  with 

21 


230  MEMOIR      OF 

an  r.ffection  rendered  more  intense  by  this  long  absence.  O ! 
when  will  it  be  terminated  ?  God  make  me  submissive  to 
his  blessed  will. 

To-morrow  is  Christmas.  May  the  blessings  w^hich  a 
Saviour  came  to  bestow,  rest  on  you,  my  beloved  friend,  and 
on  your  house  !  May  the  jieace  of  God  which  passeth  all 
understanding  keep  your  heart  and  mind  through  Christ 
Jesus. 

My  love  to  Mr.  R.  and  dear  Alice.  Do  remember  me 
to  all  of  the  dear  little  flock.  Tell  them  I  thank  them  for 
their  love,  and  their  prayers.     Let  them  still  pray  for  me. 

I  can't  write  more  than  ever  ever  yours. 

John  H.  Rice. 

In  the  following  month,  he  was  so  far  recovered  that  he 
was  able  to  return,  or  rather  to  be  carried  back,  to  his  anxious 
flock  at  Richmond;  where  he  continued  to  grow  gradually, 
but  very  slowly,  better.  In  the  mean  time,  having  duly 
and  solemnly  considered  the  invitation  from  Princeton, 
which  had  been  most  kindly  and  urgently  pressed  upon  him 
by  the  committee,)  he  felt  it  to  be  very  clearly  his  duty  to 
decline  accepting  it;  for  the  reasons  which  he  states  (with 
some  otliers  omitted,)  in  the  following  letter. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Ficlwiond,  March  6th,  ]823. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  apprehend  that  the  patience  of  my  friends  in  Princeton 
has  well  nigh  grown  weary  with  ray  delay.  But  if  they 
knew  my  situation,  that  alone  would  plead  a  sufficient  apo- 
logy.    I  shall  therefore  make  a  short  statement  of  the  case. 

My  constitution  has  received  by  the  late  dispensation  of 
Providence  a  shock  from  which  I  have  long  doubted,  and  do 
still  doubt,  whether  I  shall  ever  recover.  And  instead  of 
going  to  Princeton,  or  to  Hampden  Sydney,  or  even  staying 


DOCTOR     RICE.  231 

here,  I  have  thought  it  probable  that  I  might  have  to  retire  to 
some  quiet  and  healthy  situation,  where  I  should  be  called 
on  to  preach  but  little,  and  have  opportunity  of  taking  a  great 
deal  of  exercise ;  and  it  is  not  yet  decided  whether  I  shall 
not  be  obliged  to  adopt  this  course.  I  suppose  that  you 
never  saw,  as  I  never  have,  a  case  like  mine.  While  I  was 
sinking,  and  all  sorts  of  stimulants  were  necessary  to  pre- 
serve life,  my  nervous  irritability  or  sensibility  was  such, 
that  a  fly  coming  in  six  inches  of  my  face,  would  produce  a 
motion  in  the  air  quite  distressing.  I  could  feel  them  flying 
over  me  as  plain,  when  my  eyes  were  shut,  as  I  now  feel  the 
paper  en  which  I  write.  Happily,  I  had  taken  assafoetida, 
until  they  would  not  light  on  me.  Since  ray  convalescence, 
I  find  the  senses  of  hearing  and  seeing  greatly  impaired  ; 
and  company  worries  me  almost  to  death.  I  have  tried  to 
preach  twice,  and  have  been  a  great  sufferer  from  the  effort. 
And  after  all,  I  bid  fair  to  be  a  cripple  from  rheumatism.  In 
this  situation,  how  could  I  do  any  thing  but  give  a  negative 
to  the  application  from  Princeton?  In  regard  to  the  affair  of 
Hampden  Sydney,  I  have  constantly  said,  "  If  you  call  on 
me  to  decide,  I  must  say,  No."  But  I  was  uniformly  told, 
*'  Take  your  own  time.''  So,  indeed,  they  have  told  me 
from  Princeton,  until  lately  ;  but  now  there  is  a  little  urgency 
that  I  should  come  to  a  decision;  and  certainly  it  is  rea- 
sonable. 

Well,  then,  the  statement  which  I  have  made  above, 
seems  to  me  to  furnish  a  strong  objection  to  my  undertaking 
the  laborious  and  responsible  office  of  President  of  New 
Jersey  College.  What,  should  I,  but  a  remnant  of  my  for- 
mer self,  a  poor  shattered  nervous  creature,  do  at  the  head 
of  such  an  institution  ?  But  if  this  difliculty  were  removed, 
there  are  others  which  I  know  not  how  to  surmount.  I  will 
state  them  as  briefly  as  I  can. 

1.  There  has  been  no  question  so  often  proposed  to  me, 
as  whether  I  would  accept  the  presidency  of  a  college.  And 
in  reference  to  nothing  have  I  studied  myself  so  completely, 


232  MEMOIR     OF 

as  to  this  question.  The  result  of  the  whole  of  my  exami- 
nation is,  that  I  am  not  well  fitted  for  the  office.  1.  I  have 
a  very  strong  dislike  to  it.  2.  My  education  has  never  been 
sufficiently  complete  for  it.  In  that  station  I  could  not  bear 
the  idea  of  being  unable  to  instruct  in  any  department  in  col- 
lege. I  do  think  that  a  President  ought  to  be  able  to  look 
particularly  into  the  studies  of  every  class,  see  that  the  pro- 
fessors were  discharging  their  duty,  and  rouse  the  pupils  to 
activity  in  their  studies.  Now,  this  I  could  not  do,  without 
an  intensity  of  application  which  would  kill  me. 

2.  It  is  well  known  that  the  acceptance  of  the  Presi- 
dency would  be  very  advantageous  to  me  in  a  pecuniary 
point  of  view. 

Here,  my  nominal  salary  is  two  thousand  dollars;  my 
real  one,  sixteen  hundred  dollars,  very  irregularly  paid; 
and  my  expenses  are  beyond  my  income.  At  Princeton, 
I  should  get  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  punctually 
paid  at  quarter  day,  and  should  have  much  less  company 
than  here.  On  acceptance,  then,  it  would  at  once  be  said, 
*'Ah!  this  is  what  his  love  to  Virginia  has  come  to. 
Northern  gold  has  bought  him,  and  it  can  buy  any  of 
ithem."  And  thus  my  influence  at  the  South  would  be 
"greatly  lessened,  if  not  destroyed.  And,  with  my  dis- 
qualifications for  the  office,  I  never  could  regain  at  Prince- 
ton, what  I  should  lose  here. 

3.  The  state  of  things  in  the  South  is  such  as,  in  my 
j  view,  presents  very  serious  obstacles  to  my  going  North. 
I  have  been  observing,  as  carefully  as  I  could,  how  mat- 
ters are  working,  and  I  am  convinced  that  a  Theological 
Seminary  in  the  South  is  neceseary ;  and  that  if  there  is 
not  one  established  before  long,  the  consequences  will  be 
very  deplorable.  The  majority  of  students  in  the  South, 
will  not  go  to  the  North.  I  think  this  a  settled  point.  In 
the  state  of  North  Carolina,  there  are  twelve  or  fifteen  can- 
didates for  the  ministry,  now  studying  divinity  in  the  old 
field  school  way.     And  between  preachers  brought  forward 


DOCTOR      RICE.  233 

in  this  manner,  and  those  who  have  better  opportunities, 
tliere  is  growing  up  a  strong  spirit  of  envy  and  jealousy  on 
tlie  part  of  the  former.      This  is  so  much  the  case,   that 
among  Presbyterians  there  is  actually  now  an  undervaluing 
of  that  sort  of  education  which   we  think  very  important. 
And  things  are  like  to  get  worse  and  worse.     If,  however, 
a  Seminary  can  be  established  in  the  South,  many  will  fre- 
quent it,  who  will  not  go  to  the  North.     If  we  do  not  go 
on  with  ours,  they  will  have  one  of  some  sort,  between 
themselves  in  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia. 
The  more  remote,  the.  more  dissociated  from  the  centre  of 
Presbyterianism.     But  my  plan  is,  if  we  can  succeed  here, "  , 
to  take  Princeton  as  our  model,  to  hold   constant  corres-   ./ 
pondence  with  that  great  and  most  valuable  institution,  to  ; 
get  the  most  promising  of  our  young  men  to  finish  off  at  ^f 
Princeton;  and,  in  a  word,  as  far  as  possible,  make  this  a     \ 
sort  of  branch  of  that,  so  as  to  have  your  spirit  diffused      \ 
through  us,  and  do  all  that  can  be  done  to  bind  the  different 
parts  of  the  Church  together.     And  it  has  appeared  to  me,  ---^ 
that  if  the  Lord  does  not  intend  to   throw  me  aside  as  "  a 
broken  vessel,"  of  no  use,  that  I  may  be   more  useful  here 
than  I  possibly  could  be  any  where  else.     I  do  not  speak 
now  of  the  effect  of  training  up  men  for  the  South  in  the 
North  country,  nor  of  the  unfitness  of  most  Northern  men 
for  our  purposes.     You  know  that,  in   general,   they  will 
not  do. 

At  present,  I  should  think  it  presumptuous  to  say  that  1 
will  undertake  any  active  or  important  service.  But  the 
Presbytery  allows  me  two  months  from  this  time  to 
decide.  By  that  time,  I  may  learn  the  purposes  of 
Providence  concerning  my  future  health,  and  fitness  for 
duty.  Now,  all  is  in  the  dark.  My  state  of  suspense 
is  truly  painful;  but  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  submit. 
The  Lord's  will  be  done.  It  is  true,  I  can  say  this, 
that  if  there  were  any  service  for  which  I  thought  my- 
21* 


234  MEMOIR      OP 

self  fitted,  and  which  I  was  called  by  Providence  to  per- 
form in  Princeton,  I  had  rather  live  there  than  at  any  place 
in  this  world.  But  until  the  difficulties  stated  can  be  re- 
moved, and  my  health  restored,  I  cannot  see  it  to  be  my 
duty  to  go  there,  even  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  your  society, 
and  the  pleasure  of  Mrs.  Alexander's. 


I  have  just  lost  one  of  the  dearest  and  most  devoted 
friends  I  had  in  the  world, — Mrs.  Wood,  widow  of  the  late 
General  Wood.* 


TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

Richmond,  March  22d,  1823. 
Rev.  and  Dear  Brother, 

Notwithstanding  all  my  weakness,  and  the  harassing 
calls  made  on  my  attention,  I  really  feel  ashamed  that  your 
very  friendly  and  most  acceptable  letter  should  so  long  re- 
main unanswered.  The  state  of  my  health  must  be  my 
apology.  I  hope  that  you  will  think  it  sufficient.  The 
Lord  has  not  yet  altogether  stayed  his  hand,  although  his 
strokes  are  now  comparatively  light.  I  beg  for  constant 
remembrance  in  the  prayers  of   my  brethren.      Let  them 


*  He  adds,  in  an  obituary  notice  of  her,  which  he  published  shortly 
afterwards  in  the  Magazine  : 

"  During  her  last  sickness,  she  was  patient  and  submissive  to  the 
will  of  God;  overflowing  with  affection  to  her  friends,  and  full  of 
kindness  to  all.  She  felt  then  that  she  was  a  sinner,  and  had  no 
thoughts  of  building  her  hopes  on  any  but  "  the  Rock  of  Ages." 
The  review  of  life  created  anxieties,  which  gradually  gave  way  as 
she  approached  death,  and  at  the  last  she  was  enabled  to  say  of  God, 
with  an  appropriating  faith,  "  he  is  my  God,  and  my  father's  God, 
and  I  will  praise  him  forever."  " 


DOCTOR     RICE.  235 

pray  that  I  may  be  restored  to  health  and  usefulness,  if 
such  be  the  will  of  God ;  and  if  not,  that  I  may  be  willing 
to  be  nothing.  I  know  that  the  Almighty  has  no  need  of 
such  a  worm  of  the  dust  as  I  am,  to  accomplish  his  pur- 
poses ;  but  yet  I  do  greatly  desire  the  honour  and  happi- 
ness of  being  employed  in  his  service,  and  of  being  made  a 
blessing  to  my  fellow-creatures. 

I  have  been  endeavouring,  though  not  so  carefully  as  I 
ought,  to  learn  what  is  the  design  of  Providence  in  afflict- 
ing me  as  I  have  been  for  the  last  six  months.  It  has  not 
been  to  prepare  me  for  usefulness  at  Princeton.  The  state 
of  my  health,  and  my  shattered  constitution  utterly  forbid 
my  acceptance  of  the  office  to  which  I  have  been  chosen 
at  that  place.  Besides,  I  sincerely  think  that  I  am  not 
qualified  in  other  respects  for  the  station.  And  if  I  were 
in  the  highest  vigour,  I  could  not  conscientiously  take  on 
myself  duties  to  which  I  know  that  I  am  not  competent.  .^ 
Respecting  the  Professorship  of  Divinity  at  Hampden  r 
Sydney  College,  I  am  in  doubt.  It  is  a  place  where  I  may  ^ 
be  useful ;  though  perhaps  not  so  much  so  as  in  some  other 
situations.  And  it  affords  an  opportunity  of  greater  tran- 
quillity, and  of  more  exercise  than  I  can  take  where  I  am. 
Yet  still,  my  way  seems  hedged  up,  and  I  do  not  know 
what  I  shall  do.     The  Lord,  I  hope,  will  direct  me. 

I  wish  that  I  had  a  better  account  to  give  respecting  my 
exercises,  during  my  severe  sickness.  My  situation  then 
was  such  as  to  show  the  madness  of  putting  off  the  work 
of  full  preparation  for  death  and  judgment.  During  a  part 
of  the  time,  I  was  like  a  man  excited  by  wine.  Every 
thing  pleased  and  diverted  me.  I  was  very  happy;  but  I 
could  not  depend  on  exercises  and  feelings  of  which  I 
was  then  conscious,  because  they  were  so  much  coloured 
by  the  operations  of  disease.  And  when  this  took  a  turn 
and  fell  on  the  nervous  system,  my  imagination  teemed 
with  *'  all  monstrous,  all  prodigious  things,"  and  that  in  a 
manner  so  vivid,  as  to  put  me  up  to  my  very  best  exertions 


236  MEMOIR     OF 

to  disbelieve  the  real  existence  of  the  monsters  which  ap- 
peared around  me.  I  recollect  having  spent  a  very  con- 
siderable part  of  a  whole  day,  in  a  most  strenuous  exertion 
to  keep  from  crying  out  for  help.  In  this  situation,  you 
can  well  conceive  that  I  had  but  little  comfort.  I  remem- 
ber feeling  that  I  was  a  poor  sinner,  and  that  my  hope  and 
help  were  in  the  Lord  Jesus  alone.  And,  on  one  occasion, 
I  had  a  sense  of  the  presence  of  God,  and  of  the  divine 
glory,  which  as  far  outwent  any  thing  I  had  ever  experi- 
enced before  as  the  sun  outshines  a  star.  But,  in  general, 
the  state  of  my  disease  prevented  religious  exercise  or  en- 
joyment. You  can  form  some  conception  of  my  nervous 
sensibility,  when  I  tell  you,  that  as  I  lay  with  my  eyes 
shut,  the  agitation  of  the  air  produced  by  a  fly  passing 
within  six  inches  of  my  face  greatly  disturbed  me.  And 
even  six  weeks  after  I  had  got  out  of  bed,  I  could  not  bear 
for  a  person  to  walk  by  my  seat. 

While  I  tell  you  these  things,  however,  I  ought  to  observe 
that  my  recollection  of  the  whole  scene,  and  of  the  events 
which  took  place,  is  like  that  of  a  confused  and  troubled 
dream.  Pray  that  this  affliction  may  be  sanctified  to  me, 
and  to  my  family.  The  thought  of  its  being  misimproved, 
and  of  my  being  chastised  in  vain,  is  very  painful  to  me. 

Since  my  return  home,  I  have  endeavoured  on  two  or 
three  Sabbaths  to  preach  to  my  dear  people  ;  but  I  have  uni- 
formly suffered  much  from  the  attempt,  and  shall  endeavour 
to  be  more  prudent. 

You  will  see  that  I  have  been  trying  to  write  a  little  in 
the  magazine ;  and  will  notice  that  I  have  been  at  Andover. 
I  am  sure  that  you  and  the  other  brethren  there,  will  take  as 
I  intended  the  remarks  made  on  the  institution. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  me  in  most  affectionate  remembrance  of 
Mrs.  Woods,  yourself,  and  children,  of  Professor  Stuart  and 
his  family.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Porter,  and  all  friends  in  Andover. 
No  place  in  New  England  is  connected,  in  our  recollections, 
with  such  delightful  associations  as  Andover,  and  we  only 


DOCTOR     RICE.  237 

desire  that  all  there  may  think  and  feel  towards  us,  as  we 
do  towards  them. 

With  the  highest  regard, 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESq. 

Richmond,  April  I2th,  1823. 
)My  Dear  Sir, 

Are  you  so  deep  in  the  bottomless  pit  of  law,  that  your 
friends  in  the  world  are  forgotten  by  you  ?  Have  you  not 
seen  the  magazine  labouring  on,  and  heard  it  crying  for  help ; 
and  where  is  your  Virginia  heart,  and  your  zeal,  and  all  that 
sort  of  thing  ? 

I  should  have  written  to  you  weeks  ago  ;  but  it  has  been 
as  much  as  I  have  been  able  to  do,  for  the  last  three  months, 
to  get  through  unavoidable  writing.  I  have  been  nearly  a 
dead  man ;  and  I  do  not  feel  as  though  I  were  more  than  half 
alive  now — but  I  cannot  think  that  I  am  "  out  of  mind"  with 
my  friends.     But  let  me  have  some  proof  of  it  before  long. 

I  wish  very  much  to  pay  a  visit  to  Norfolk,  but  I  do  not 
know  whether  I  can  do  so.  I  wish  very  much  to  have  a 
long  talk  with  you  ;  but  I  fear  that  you  will  not  come  to  see 
me.  You  perceive  that  I  have  declined  going  to  Princeton. 
Providence  put  a  veto  on  that  by  shattering  my  constitution 
so  as  to  unfit  me  for  the  station.  Besides,  if  I  were  perfectly 
well,  that  is  not  my  place. 

The  question  about  going  to  Hampden  Sydney  is  one  of 
much  greater  difficulty.  I  wish  that  I  could  hear  or  read 
your  thoughts  on  that  subject.  Pray  write,  and  give  me  any 
views  that  you  think  will  assist  me  in  making  up  an  opinion. 
I  want  to  know  in  this,  as  in  every  case,  what  is  my  duty. 
That  is  the  main  question.  Labour,  poverty,  difficulty,  are 
all  out  of  the  question.  How  can  I  do  most  for  my  Lord 
and  Master,  and  for  the  good  of  my  fellow-men  ? 


238  MEMOIR     OF 

Pray  write  soon.  Mrs.  Rice  and  Harriet  join  in  affection- 
ate remembrance  of  you,  and  all  the  dear  Norfolk  friends. 
Excuse  great  haste,  and  believe  me  to  be  ever  truly 

Yours, 
John  H.  Rice. 

Shortly  afterwards,  finding  himself  still  much  indisposed, 
he  determined  to  take  an  excursion  into  the  low  country,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  salt-water  air,  which  he  hoped  would  im- 
prove his  health ;  and  leaving  his  congregation  in  the  charge 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hamner,  he  set  out  (accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Rice,)  to  visit  Gloucester  and  Mathews  counties,  and  after- 
wards the  Eastern  Shore,  for  the  first  time. 

TO  MISS  HARRIET  B.  MINOR. 

Seaford,  April  26/A,  1823. 
Dear  Harriet,  Eliza,  and  all  of  you, 

I  have  just  returned  from  an  excursion  to  the  Eastern  Shore, 
where  1  have  met  with  unbounded  hospitality,  and  very  good 
living.  My  health  has  manifestly  improved,  and  my  strength 
increased.  If  I  bad  about  six  weeks  to  employ  on  salt  water, 
I  have  no  doubt  but  that  I  should  be  greatly  improved  in  my 
health,  and  not  a  little  fattened.  But  I  suppose  we  must  set 
out  on  Monday  to  journey  upwards.  My  plan  is  to  preach 
in  this  neighbourhood  to-morrow,  the  Sabbath  after  at  Wil- 
liamsbug ;  and  the  following  Tuesday  I  hope  to  be  in  dear 
Richmond. 

We  had  a  pleasant  trip  over  the  bay  ;  except  that  on  the 

water   your  aunt  and  Mrs.  T ,  who  went  with  us, 

were  sick,  and  silent.  I  have  never  seen  a  higher  display 
of  Virginia  hospitality  than  we  saw  on  the  Eastern  Shore. 
Your  aunt  will  tell  you  particulars  when  you  and  she  meet : 

and  you  will  then  hear  of  Mr.  B ,  and  Mr.  E , 

of  Judge  P and  his  lady,  of  Mrs.  U ,  and  the 

beautiful  Miss  S ,  &c.  &c.  Every  where  we  are  re- 
ceived with  kindness,  and  treated  with  afTectionate  respect, 


DOCTOR     RICE.  239 

which  may  well  awaken  gratitude  to  that  Gracious  Being 
who,  I  was  almost  ready  to  say,  paves  our  way  with  love. 

Remember  me  most  affectionately  to  all  dear  friends ;  I 
cannot  specify  any  body  but  Mr.  Hamner,  who  I  hope  is 
happy  and  useful  among  you.  I  am  in  haste,  and  can  only 
add, 

Your  affectionate  uncle. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  BUSS  HARRIET  B.  MINOR. 

Mathews  County,  May  2d,  1823. 
Dear  Harriet, 

My  health  goes  on  to  improve,  and  my  strength  to  in- 
crease. I  am  truly  sorry  that  longer  time  is  not  allowed  me 
to  stay  among  these  hospitable  people,  at  this  genial  season  of 
the  year.  The  weather  has  not  allowed  me  to  take  any  sea- 
bathing, and  of  course  I  have  not  made  a  full  experiment  of 
the  advantages  afforded  to  me  here.  But  as  fast  as  Provi- 
dence will  allow,  we  must  be  moving  towards  home.  We 
should  have  started  yesterday;  but  your  aunt  was  too  much 
indisposed  to  travel.  This  evening,  however,  she  is  so  much 
better  as  to  give  good  hope  that  we  shall  be  able  to  travel 
on  Monday;  and  we  trust  that  we  shall  reach  our  beloved 
home  by  Thursday  evening. 

We  have  been  sadly  disappointed  in  not  hearing  one  word 
from  Richmond,  except  by  the  newspapers,  since  we  left 

the  place.    I  see  by  the  Enquirer  that  my  friend  Mr.  T 

has  been  removed.     Poor  Mrs.  T ,  I  do  pity  her.     She 

has  lost  a  very  kind  husband ;  and  all  her  kindred  the  best 

friend  they  ever  had.     Mr.  T ,  with  some  peculiarities, 

was  an  excellent  man.  I  sincerely  regret  his  death,  and 
heartily  sympathize  with  his  wife.  Should  you  see  her,  say 
so  much  to  her,  with  my  kindest  regards. 

The  people  down  here  are  as  affectionate  and  respectful 
to  me  and  your  aunt  as  possible.  We  shall  long  remember 
their  warm-hearted  hospitality.    It  is  not  possible  not  to  love 


240  MEMOIR     OF 

and  pity  them.     They  are  so  destitute,  and  yet  such  excel- 
lent stuff  to  make  christians  of. 

You  must  give  my  love  and  your  aunt's,  as  I  said  before, 
to  all  the  good  boys  and  girls  about  Richmond,  and  especially 
to  all  the  dear  members  of  our  little  flock.  I  cannot  mention 
any  of  them  in  particular. 

Your  aunt  joins  me  in  most  affectionate  remembrance  of 
you,  and  of  Mary,  if  she  is  yet  with  you. 

I  am  your  ov^^n  Uncle, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ,. 

Richmond,  May  27th,  1823. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Your  kind  favour  was  sent  to  my  house  while  I  was  on 
an  excursion  in  search  of  health,  and  therefore  has  remain- 
ed long  unanswered.  True,  I  have  been  at  home  for  a  fort- 
night ;  but  exceedingly  busy  all  the  time.  I  hope  you  will 
excuse  me. 

I  knew  that  the  season  was  too  early  for  sea-bathing,  and 
at  the  same  time  that  exercise  in  open  air  was  important.  I 
also  wanted  fresh  oysters  most  egregiously.  On  these  ac- 
counts, and  because  I  tiad  never  visited  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try, I  determined  to  go  down  to  Glo'ster  and  Mathews,  and 
over  the  Bay.  I  did  so,  and  found  great  advantage  in  the  trip. 
I  wish  yet  to  come  to  Norfolk,  and  hope  to  be  able  to  accom- 
plish it ;  but  am  not  able  to  say  when.  In  the  mean  time, 
my  desire  to  confab  with  you  increases. 

I  have  a  deeper  conviction  than  ever  of  the  necessity  of 
building  up  a  Theological  School  among  ourselves.  We 
have  made  unusual  exertions  in  the  missionary  cause  this 
year,  and  succeeded  better  than  common.  But  although 
every  effort  was  made,  we  could  not  get  Northern  young 
men  to  work,  except  during  the  winter, — the  worst  season 
in  the  year  in  our  country.  And  as  soon  as  the  weather 
began  to  grow  a  little  warm,  they  went  scampering  off  from 


DOCTOR     RICE.  241 

US,  in  the  way  I  hope  soon  to  hear  of  the  French  scamper- 
ing off  from  Spain.  In  several  places,  the  missionaries  made 
considerable  impression,  and  were  entreated  by  the  people 
to  stay,  with  the  promise  of  more  than  missionary  pay. 
We  must  have  a  school;  but  must  I  take  charge  of  it? 
That  is  a  question  deeply  interesting  to  me.  I  should  like 
to  have  your  opinion.  For  although,  after  all,  my  own 
convictions  of  duty  must  lead  me  to  a  decision,  I  should  be 
extremely  glad  to  get  the  aid  of  my  friends  in  deciding 
what  duty  is. 

There  is  one  difficulty  that  presses  me  a  good  deal.  I 
am  most  thoroughly  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  support- 
ing our  printing  establishment.  Scattered  and  insulated 
as  we  are,  and  without  means  of  personal  access  to  the 
people,  the  press  gives  us  great  advantage,  and  increases 
our  moral  power  to  a  vast  extent.  If  we  give  it  up,  we 
shall  be  shorn  of  half  our  strength.  But  I  have  worked, 
as  you  know,  almost  alone.  I  have  broken  my  constitu- 
tion, spent  my  time,  and  sunk  my  money  on  this  thing. 
To  give  it  up  now,  will  be  a  sore  business  to  me,  and 
ruinous  to  our  plans.  But  if  more  men  would  take  hold  of 
the  thing,  it  might  be  supported ;  and  be  made  instrumental 
in  effecting  that  moral  renovation  which  we  wish.  My 
physical  powers  are  effete.  Intellectual  labour  overcomes 
me,  and,  without  time  to  recruit,  I  can  no  longer  perform 
the  services  of  two  or  three  men.  Now,  as  to  this  matter, 
what  plans  shall  we  lay  ?     Be  my  Apollo  for  once. 

Give  my  love  to  all  friends.  Mrs.  Rice  and  Harriet 
join  in  expressing  best  regards  for  you,  with  your 

Assured  friend, 

John  H.  Rice. 

It  would  appear  from  this  last  letter,  that,  at  the  time  of 
its   date,   he    was  still   undecided  whether  he   should  ac- 
cept the  appointment  of  the  Presbytery  to  take  charge  of 
22 


242  MEMOIR    OF 

the  Theological  Seminary  under  their  care.  The  conviction 
of  his  conscience,  indeed,  evidently  pointed  that  way ;  but 
the  feelings  of  his  heart  towards  his  beloved  people  in 
Richmond,  still  struggled  against  it.  It  was,  however, 
necessary  for  him  to  come  to  some  conclusion;  and,  soon 
afterwards,  finding  that  the  advice  of  all  the  friends  whom 
he  had  consulted  concurred  with  his  own  judgment,  he 
determined  to  resign  his  pastoral  charge,  and  repair  to  the 
new  field  of  labour  to  which  his  Master  had  certainly  called 
him.  Accordingly,  on  the  2d  of  June,  he  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  the  Session  of  his  church. 

TO    THE    SESSION    OF    THE     FIRST    PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH    IN    RICHMOND. 

Richmond,  June  2d,  1823, 
Dear  Brethren, 

1  address  you  at  this  time  under  emotions  of  a  very  pain- 
ful nature.  It  had  long  been  my  purpose  to  live  and  die 
among  you.  I  have  declined  many  ofi'ers,  and  rejected 
many  solicitations  to  leave  this  place  and  people,  and  have 
neither  sought  nor  desired  any  office  but  that  of  being  their 
pastor.  But  as  you  and  the  congregation  know,  the  Pres- 
bytery has  elected  me  to  be  Professor  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  under  their  care  ;  and  after  having  allowed  suffi- 
cient time  for  deliberation,  they  are  impatient  for  a  decision. 
It  has  been  with  the  utmost  reluctance,  and  even  with  deep 
anguish  of  spirit,  that  I  have  been  brought  to  the  determi- 
nation to  accept  that  appointment ;  and  it  is  with  a  sorrow- 
ful heart  that  I  now  announce  this  determination  to  you. 
The  reasons  which  have  led  me  to  form  this  conclusion  are 
many,  and  appear  to  me  to  be  weighty.  I  cannot  enter 
into  a  detail  of  them  here,  but  hope  for  an  opportunity  of 
explaining  them  to  the  congregation.  I  will  only  say  in 
general  terms,  that  an  imperious  and  overpowering  sense  of 
duty  has  alone  urged  me  to  this  measure ;  opposed  as  it  is 


DOCTOR     RICE.  243 

to  all  my  feelings,  and,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  to  my  worldly 
interests. 

This  is  not  the  case  of  an  ordinary  call;  and  allow  me  to 
say,  I  could  not  have  left  you  to  go  to  any  other  congrega- 
tion. The  Presbytery  which  instituted  the  pastoral  rela- 
tionship between  me  and  you,  is  the  very  body  which  has 
chosen  me  to  the  office,  acceptance  of  which  compels  me 
to  leave  you.  If  the  reasons  which  have  determined  me 
to  adopt  the  measure  announced,  should  convince  the  con- 
gregation, and  they  acquiesce,  there  will  exist  no'  difficulty 
in  my  removal.  But  should  this  not  be  the  case,  commis- 
sioners may  be  appointed  to  attend  the  next  meeting  of 
Presbytery,  (to  be  holden  in  Prince  Edward  on  the  27th  of 
the  present  month,)  to  show  cause  why  the  pastoral  rela- 
tionship existing  between  us  ought  not  to  be  dissolved. 
If  they  can  succeed  in  convincing  the  Presbytery,  I 
shall  be  happy  to  remain  with  you,  until  it  shall  please 
the  all  wise  Disposer  of  events  to  remove  me  from  this 
world. 

But  should  the  congregation  acquiesce  in  the  decision 
that  has  been  made,  I  wish  that  no  formal  act  of  dismission 
may  take  place.  I  resign  to  you  my  pastoral  office,  and 
desire  that  a  connexion  between  me  and  the  church  may 
continue  as  long  as  I  live.  I  shall  be  enabled  often  to 
visit  you,  and  shall  take  delight  in  holding  communion  with 
you,  and  affording  you  all  the  aid,  counsel,  and  comfort, 
that  such  a  feeble  instrument  can  afford. 

With  a  grateful  feeling  for  all  the  kindness  I  have  re- 
ceived from  5^ou,  and  earnest  prayers  that  it  may  please 
God  to  bless  you  and  the  church  which  you  represent;  and 
guide  us  all  in  the  way  of  truth  and  righteousness,  I  re- 
main, 

Dear  brethren. 

Most  truly  yours. 

John  H.  Rice. 


244  MEMOIR      OF 

On  receiving  this  letter,  the  Session  resolved,  of  course, 
that  it  should  be  laid  before  the  church,  and  that  a  meeting 
of  the  members  should  be  called  for  the  purpose,  on  the  16th 
inst.  In  the  mean  time,  the  nevi^s  that  he  had  at  last  de- 
cided to  leave  them,  spread  rapidly  through  the  congregation, 
and  excited  those  feelings  of  sorrow  which  were  alike  hon- 
ourable to  him  and  to  themselves.  All  felt,  indeed,  that  it 
was  no  light  thing  to  part  with  such  a  pastor,  who  had  been 
the  instrument,  under  God,  of  founding  their  church,  and  of 
raising  it  up  to  its  present  flourishing  state.  And  where 
could  they  expect  to  find  another  like  him — so  able,  so  faith- 
ful, so  affectionate — for  he  was  gentle  among  them,  even  as 
a  nurse  cherisheth  her  children.  Surely  they  could  not  find 
his  equal  in  the  land.  Or,  if  they  could,  yet  he  would  only 
be  like  him,  and  not  himself — and  he  could  not  be  Xheir  first 
pastor,  whom  tliey  had  so  long  cherished  (perhaps  too 
fondly)  in  their  hearts. 

Such  were  their  sentiments  towards  him  on  this  trying 
occasion.  At  the  same  time,  such  were  their  convictions  of 
the  paramount  importance  of  the  office  to  which  he  was  call- 
ed, and  such  their  persuasion  (which  he  himself  had  wrought 
in  them)  that  they  ought  to  be  willing  to  resign  him  to  the 
service  of  the  church,  and  of  the  Lord,  that  none  were  found 
to  oppose  his  resolution — except  by  their  tears.  The  fol- 
lowing letter  which  he  wrote  at  the  time  to  a  beloved  mem- 
ber of  his  flock,  will  show  what  was  passing  in  the  heart  of 
many  a  one  of  them,  as  well  as  in  his  own,  at  tliis  junc- 
ture. 

TO  MRS.  E.  W.  PLEASANTS. 

Sabbath  Morning. 
My  Dear  Sister, 

I  saw  the  mournful  note  which  you  sent  to  Mrs.  R.  last 
evening,  and  it  grieved  me.  But  "  the  Lord  will  provide." 
Trust  in  him ;  and  fear  nothing.     I  shall  never  be  able  to 


DOCTOR     RICE.  245 

describe  the  pain,  and  even  anguish  of  spirit  which  this  affair 
has  occasioned  me.  I  never  sought  or  desired  any  office  which 
would  carry  me  away  from  my  beloved  people.  I  have  rejected 
many  offers,  since  I  lived  here,  of  places  of  much  greater  emo- 
lument and  much  less  labour  than  the  one  which  I  have  oc- 
cupied now  eleven  years.  The  Presbytery,  contrary  to  my 
express  and  earnest  desire,  appointed  me  to  the  Professor- 
ship. It  is  a  laborious  and  responsible  office,  and  I  did  not 
want  it.  I  wanted  to  stay  with  my  people.  Still,  however, 
they  appointed  me.  I  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  refuse,  lest 
I  should  thus  refuse  to  do  my  duty.  On  considering  the 
whole  subject,  I  felt  obliged  in  conscience,  sorely  against  my 
will,  to  declare  my  acceptance  of  the  office.  The  thing  how- 
ever is  not  yet  consummated.  The  congregation  has  a  right 
to  be  heard  before  Presbytery.  They  may  appoint  com- 
missioners, if  they  will,  and  show  cause  why  the  Presby- 
tery should  not  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation  which  subsists 
between  me  and  the  people.  If  they  can  convince  the  Pres- 
bytery that  this  ought  not  to  be  done,  why,  then  the  rela- 
tionship will  not  be  dissolved,  and  I  shall  stay  with  you  as 
long  as  I  live.  And  this  would  be  joyful  indeed  tome.  But 
if  the  congi-egation  does  not  think  proper  to  prosecute  this 
matter ;  or  if  on  a  full  hearing  of  the  case,  the  constituted 
authorities  should  determine  that  the  connexion  between 
me  and  the  people  must  be  dissolved — why  then,  a  mournful 
separation  must  take  place ;  but  not  a  total  one — for,  be  it  as 
it  may,  I  never  mean  to  take  a  dismission  from  this  beloved 
church :  and  I  shall  hope  to  spend  a  month  or  two  in  Rich- 
mond every  year  ;  besides  paying  frequent  occasional  visits. 
I  know  that  my  heart  will  cleave  to  you  as  long  as  it  throbs; 
and  that  I  shall  never  cease  to  pray  for  you  and  yours. 
Your  affectionate  brother  in  Christ, 

J.  H.  Rice. 

The  meeting  of  the  members  which  had  been  called  by  the 
Session,  was  held,  according  to  order,  in  the  church,  on  Mon- 

22* 


246  MEMOIROF 

day  evening,  the  16th  of  June,  1823,  when  the  Rev.  John 
B.  Hoge  was  appomted  Moderator,  and  Mr.  Flemming 
James,  Secretary.  The  Moderator  addressed  the  throne  of 
grace  in  a  solemn  prayer,  and  the  letter  of  the  Pastor  to  the 
Session  was  then  read;  after  which  Elder  James  Caskie 
moved  the  following  resolutions,  which  were  adopted  by  the 
meeting  without  dissent. 

*'  1.  Resolved,  That  while  we  lament  that  Presbytery  have 
found  it  necessary  for  the  promotion  of  the  general  interests 
of  the  Church  of  Christ,  to  call  our  Pastor  from  us  by  appoint- 
ing him  Professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary  ;  and  that  he 
has  been  constrained  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  accept  the  ap- 
pointment, we  view  with  painful  emotion  our  separation  from 
him ;  yet,  conceiving  it  to  be  our  duty  to  submit  to  the 
will  of  God  at  all  times,  we  acquiesce  in  the  decision  made 
by  those  placed  in  authority  over  us  in  the  Lord  ;  which  we 
request  may  be  certified  to  Presbytery,  upon  whom  we  call 
in  this  exigency  for  the  exercise  of  their  special  care. 

*'  2.  Resolved,  That  the  church  receive  with  deep  sorrow 
and  concern  the  information  of  their  Pastor's  resignation, 
and  that  in  the  afflicted  and  destitute  state  of  the  church,  it 
becomes  its  members  to  humble  themselves,  and  mourn  be- 
fore God,  and  seriously  to  inquire  the  cause  of  this  visita- 
tion. 

"  .3.  Resolved,  That  the  Session  be  requested  to  communi- 
cate from  the  church  to  their  late  Pastor,  the  sentiments  of 
affection,  and  interest  in  his  welfare,  with  which  they  do,  and 
will  continue  to  regard  him, — their  gratitude  for  all  his  kind 
offices  of  love — and  their  desire  that  the  connection  which 
has  so  long  been  cherished,  may  be  no  further  severed 
than  the  duties  of  his  new  office,  and  the  interests  of  this 
church  render  indispensable." 

Thus  the  tie  that  had  so  long  bound  him  to  his  church, 
was  virtually,  though  not  yet  formally  severed ;  as  indeed, 
we  have  seen,  he  had  fondly  determined  that  it  never  should 
be.     Accordingly,  he  still  lingered  among  his  people  in 


DOCTOR     RICE.  247 

Richmond,  and  continued  to  perform  pastoral  duty,  as  far  as 
he  was  able,  until  the  3d  of  July  following.  Finding,  how- 
ever, that  his  frame  was  still  too  feeble  to  allpw  him  to  la- 
bour much  in  this  way,  and  that  every  attempt  to  preach 
brought  back  his  fever  upon  him,  he  determined  to  take  a 
sea  voyage  to  New  York,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  At 
the  same  time,  always  anxious  to  be  usefully  employed,  he 
thought  that  he  might  embrace  the  opportunity  while  he 
was  at  the  North,  of  collecting  funds  for  the  Seminary  which 
he  was  now  to  edify  indeed,  in  a  double  sense  ;  and,  accord- 
ingly, taking  a  commission  from  the  Board  for  the  purpose, 
he  embarked  in  a  packet,  (accompanied  by  Mrs.  Rice,)  about 
the  middle  of  the  month,  and  soon  afterwards  arrived  safely 
at  New  York.  Here,  however,  he  was  for  some  days  even 
more  indisposed,  and  suffered  much  both  in  body  and  mind ; 
but  his  heart,  it  seems,  was  still  warm  towards  the  people 
whom  he  had  left,  and,  thinking  of  them  with  an  affection 
which  absence  had  only  increased,  he  wrote  the  following 
letter  to  the  gentleman  who  had  now  the  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation, in  which  he  discloses  the  feelings  of  a  true  pas- 
tor's (or  rather  of  his  own  truly  pastoral)  spirit,  in  the  most 
expressive  manner. 


TO  THE  REV.  JAMES  G.  HAMNER. 

New  York,  Aug.  Sd,  1823. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

It  has  pleased  a  wise  Providence  to  visit  me  so  severely 
with  sickness  since  I  arrived  here,  that  I  have  been  able  to 
do  nothing  but  attend  to  my  own  painful  sensations,  and  seek 
the  means  of  deliverance  from  my  infirmities.  To-day, 
however,  I  have  been  pretty  comfortable ;  and  as  I  was  very 
near  to  church,  I  embraced  the  opportunity  of  going ;  chiefly 
because  I  should  there  be  enabled  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of 
joining  in  communion  with  the  people  of  God,  around  the 
table  of  our  common  Lord. 


248  MEMOIR    or 

I  had  no  sooner  seated  myself  at  the  table,  and  shut  my 
eyes  for  the  purpose,  as  is  my  custom,  of  offering  a  prayer 
for  divine  aid,  than  you,  with  the  dear  little  flock  to  whom 
you  are  now  ministering,  appeared  to  be  full  before  me  ;  and 
I  could  scarcely  draw  off  my  thoughts  from  you  even  to  fix 
them  on  myself.  Every  time  I  attempted  to  pray,  my  peti- 
tions would  insensibly  run  into  invocations  of  God's  bless- 
ings on  you  and  my  dear  people.  I  have  not  been  able  to 
get  them  out  of  my  mind  all  day.  And  this  evening,  when 
all  are  gone  to  church,  and  I  am  left  entirely  alone,  the  temp- 
tation to  write  is  irresistible. 

My  young  brother  !  I  pray  that  you  may  be  made  a  rich 
blessing  to  my  dear  friends  and  children  in  Christ,  for  the 
time  committed  to  your  charge.  I  trust  and  believe  that  you 
will  warn  them  faithfully  and  affectionately,  and  that  with 
all  earnestness  of  spirit  you  will  testify  to  them  of  the  grace 
of  God.  And  may  the  Lord  bless  to  them  your  labours  of 
love  !  O  !  may  you  be  instrumental  in  building  them  up  in 
the  faith  and  order  of  the  gospel.  Water  the  seed  sown  by 
you  with  much  prayer.  So  may  you  hope  that  it  will  be 
watered  from  above,  and  made  abundantly  fruitful. 

Give  my  dearest  love  to  all  the  members  of  the  church, 
and  assure  them  that  no  time  nor  absence  makes  any  change 
in  my  affections  towards  them. 

Tell  them  that  if  my  feelings  would  have  permitted  me,  I 
intended  to  preach  before  leaving  them,  on  2  Cor.  xiii.  2, 
"  Finally,  brethren,  farewell.  Be  perfect,  be  of  good  com- 
fort, be  of  one  mind,  live  in  peace  ;  and  the  God  of  love  and 
peace  shall  be  with  you."  I  wanted  to  explain  to  them 
what  the  apostle  means  by  the  injunction,  be  perfect; — you 
can  tell  them  this  for  me ; — to  bid  them  be  of  good  comfort  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus ;  and  to  charge  them  to  be  of 
one  mind,  and  to  live  in  peace,  as  they  would  adorn  the  doc- 
trines of  their  Saviour.  As  for  the  rest,  I  do  pray,  and  while 
I  have  breath  I  will  pray,  that  the  God  of  love  and  peace  may 
he  with  them,  and  shed  his  choicest  blessings  on  them. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  249 

To  the  heads  of  families  among  them,  say  from  me,  Dear 
brethren,  let  your  houses  be  ruled  in  the  fear  of  God :  and 
remember  both  for  yourselves  and  children,  that  one  thing 
is  needful.  It  is  God's  blessing  that  maketh  rich,  and  addeth 
no  sorrow.  Without  it,  every  thing,  in  the  end,  proves 
a  curse.  O  that  this  may  be  realized  by  all ;  and  that  the 
blessing  of  the  Almighty  may  be  sought  by  earnest,  impor- 
tunate, daily  prayers  ! 

Exhort  the  young  professors  in  the  church  to  be  steady 
and  steadfast ;  to  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of 
his  might;  to  be  full  of  zeal,  yet  humble  ;  fervent  in  spirit, 
yet  charitable.  And  while  they  are  laudably  endeavouring 
to  be  useful  to  others,  let  them  seek  to  grow  in  grace,  and 
in  knowledge.  I  urge  this  on  them,  because  I  fear  there  is 
not  among  them  such  a  spirit  of  self-improvement  as  I  could 
wish.  The  time  is  coming  when  all  the  important  concerns 
of  the  church  will  be  put  into  the  hands  of  those  who  are 
now  young  members.  And  they  ought  to  prepare  tliem- 
selves,  by  a  diligent  pursuit  of  the  necessary  knowledge,  and 
by  daily  increase  in  grace,  to  discharge  the  duties  to  which 
they  will  be  called.  And  may  the  peace  that  Jesus  gives, 
be  on  them ! 

But  there  are  many  young  people,  not  in  the  church,  for 
whom  I  feel  a  lively  interest ;  for  whose  spiritual  welfare  I 
have  laboured,  and  for  whose  happiness  I  pray.  In  the  ad- 
dress that  you  make  in  my  name,  call  to  those  that  are  with- 
out, and  say,  O  turn,  now,  in  the  accepted  time,  and  in  the 
day  of  merciful  visitation,  from  the  way  of  the  destroyer,  to 
the  pleasant  and  peaceful  paths  of  heavenly  wisdom.  One 
who  is  far  from  you,  but  who,  however  forgotten  by  you, 
never  forgets  your  best  interests,  sends  you  a  message  of 
affection,  and  entreats  you  by  a  Saviour's  love,  to  remember 
your  Creator  in  the  days  of  your  youth,  and  give  your  best 
affections  to  the  Redeemer  of  lost  souls.  O  Saviour!  let  thy 
mercy  reach  their  case. 

As  you  address  various  classes  of  persons,  do  not  forget 


250  MEMOIR     OF 

the  children,  the  lambs  of  Christ's  flock.  Tell  them,  that 
their  minister  loves  them,  and  remembers  them,  and  prays 
for  them.  Tell  them  too,  how  the  Saviour  loved  litde  chil- 
dren, took  them  in  his  arms,  and  blessed  them ;  and  if  they 
will  be  good  children,  the  Lord  Jesus  will  bless  them  too ; 
will  make  them  happy  here,  and  happy  forever. 

In  sending  messages  of  affection,  I  cannot  enter  into  par- 
ticulars ;  it  would  be  just  writing  down  the  names  of  the 
whole  church,  and  of  many  that  are  out  of  the  church  too. 
You  cannot  go  amiss.  I  love  Richmond  and  Manchester ; 
and  I  pray  for  God  Almighty's  best  blessing  on  the  whole 
population. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  me  in  affection  for  you,  and  all  among 
whom  you  go  in  and  out. 

I  am  yours  fraternally. 

John  H.  Rice. 

^oon  afterwards,  leaving  New  York,  he  proceeded  to  Sa- 
ratoga Spa,  to  try  the  waters ;  but  without  receiving  much 
benefit  from  them.  Whilst  here,  however,  the  Presbytery 
of  Albany  held  its  sessions  in  the  church  of  the  village,  and 
he  embraced  the  opportunity  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  body, 
and  lay  the  cause  of  the  Seminary  before  them.  This  he 
did  with  some  effect ;  and  his  appeal  was  warmly  seconded 
by  the  late  Dr.  Chester  of  Albany,  who  reminded  the  breth- 
ren that  the  very  house  in  which  they  were  then  assembled 
had  been  built,  in  a  great  measure,  by  the  liberality  of  their 
Southern  friends ;  and  strongly  insisted  that  it  was  but  fair 
and  proper  that  they  should  now  afford  tlieir  aid  to  this 
Southern  enterprise,  (so  important  and  interesting,)  in  return. 
Dr.  William  Chester,  also,  of  Hudson,  who  had  been,  some 
years  before,  a  missionary  in  Virginia,  bore  testimony  to  the 
wants  and  claims  of  that  part  of  the  country,  and  advocated 
the  object  with  great  ardour.  After  this,  he  received  the 
most  gratifying  assurances  from  all  the  members,  that  they 
would  very  readily  recommend  his  cause  to  the  considera- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  251 

tion  of  their  people;  and  he  was  altogether  well  pleased 
with  the  liberal  spirit  which  appeared  to  prevail  among 
them. 

From  Saratoga  he  proceeded  to  Schenectady,  where  he 
explained  his  views  to  President  Nott,  Professor  Patton, 
and  other  gentlemen,  who  heard  his  communications  with 
all  the  favour  which  he  had  hoped.  Thence  he  returned 
to  Albany,  where  he  spent  a  few  days  with  his  friend  Dr. 
Chester,  and  received  some  handsome  donations.  He  then 
proceeded  to  Lebanon  Springs,  where  he  remained  some 
short  time  recruiting  his  health ;  and  afterwards  went  on  to 
Boston,  where  he  hoped  to  find  many  friends  to  himself, 
and  to  his  object ;  and  was  not  disappointed.  From  Boston, 
too,  he  made  a  short  excursion  to  Salem,  where  the  late 
Rev.  Mr.  Cornelius,  (whose  praise  is  in  all  the  churches,) 
very  promptly  aided  him  in  his  engagement,  and  assisted 
him  in  making  some  collections  for  it.  And  he  after- 
wards proceeded  to  Andover,  where  he  was  again  most 
kindly  welcomed  by  the  Professors,  who  naturally  felt  a 
lively  interest  in  his  movement,  and,  very  cordially  encour- 
aged him  to  proceed  in  his  arduous  undertaking,  by  the  assur- 
ances of  their  sympathy,  and  their  prayers.  Thus  he  flat- 
tered himself,  (and  not  vainly,)  that  he  was  breaking  up  the 
ground,  and  scattering  the  seed  in  the  field  of  christian  libe- 
rality, which,  by  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  he 
should  reap  in  due  time. 

But  the  summer  was  now  over;  and  it  was  necessary  for 
him  to  turn  his  face  towards  the  South,  and  hasten  home. 
On  his  way,  he  preached,  and  took  up  collections  for  his 
object  in  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  and  Fredericksburg,  and 
soon  afterwards  reached  Richmond,  with  a  handsome  supply 
of  funds  for  the  Seminary,  and  a  new  stock  of  health  and 
spirits  for  the  work  before  him. 

This  he  was  now  ardently  anxious  to  begin;  and,  accord- 
ingly, after  refreshing  himself  for  a  few  days  with  his  friends 
in  Richmond,  he   repaired  at  once,   (with  his  family,)  to 


252  MEMOIR     OF 

Prince  Edward ;  a  county  which  had  been  the  field  of  some 
of  his  first  labours  in  life,  and  was  now  to  be  the  scene  of  his 
last.  Here,  finding  that  the  Board  had  as  yet  provided  no 
house  for  his  accommodation,  he  accepted  the  kind  invita- 
tion of  his  friend,  Mr.  Cushing,  the  President  of  Hampden 
Sydney  College,  and  took  up  his  lodgings  with  him  for  the 
present;  and  soon  afterwards  opened  his  "  school  of  the  pro- 
phets," (not  without  prayer,)  in  a  small  out-house  which 
that  gentleman  lent  him  for  the  purpose ;  with  only  three  stu- 
dents to  attend  his  lessons  !  A  small  beginning  indeed  for 
a  great  work !  But  he  had  learned  from  the  scriptures,  not 
to  despise  "  the  day  of  small  things."  And  it  was  well  for 
him,  in  truth,  that  he  had ;  for  he  soon  saw  and  felt  that  the 
undertaking  in  which  he  was  now  engaged,  was  arduous  in 
the  extreme;  the  more  so  because  it  was  complex,  and 
distracting ;  for  he  had  not  merely  to  teach  his  pupils,  as 
formerly,  already  gathered  in  the  shade  of  the  *'  academic 
bower;"  but  he  had  now,  first  to  build  a  house  for  his  scho- 
lars, and  then  to  find  the  scholars  for  his  house,  and  then 
to  support  them,  (or  some  of  them,)  in  it;  still  instructing 
them  by  lectures,  and  otherwise,  all  the  while ;  and  finally, 
to  raise  and  secure  funds,  from  all  quarters,  for  the  enlarge- 
ment and  permanent  endowment  of  the  institution,  on  a 
scale  sufficiently  extensive  to  satisfy  the  wants  and  wishes 
of  the  Southern  country  I  The  design  was  evidently  vast ; 
and  the  means  as  yet  provided  to  accomplish  it,  were 
obviously  inadequate.  Thus  the  whole  stock  of  the  institu- 
tion at  this  time,  (and  which  it  had  taken  twenty  years  to 
accumulate,)  consisted  of  a  ^^  permanenf  fund,  so  called,  of 
about  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  a  contingent  fund  (rightly 
named,)  composed  of  the  contributions  of  the  churches  of 
the  Presbytery  and  hardly  exceeding  a  thousand  dollars  a 
year.  In  short,  it  appeared  as  if  he  had  been  called  to 
create  the  Institution  in  which  he  had  been  appointed  to 
teacb,  and,  with  a  sort  of  poetic  power,  to  "give,"  as  it 
were,   to  an  "airy  nothing,"   a  ^^  local  habitation  and   a 


DOCTOR     RICE.  253 

namey  Happily,  however,  he  had  all  the  talents  and  re- 
sources which  were  necessary  for  the  accomplishment  of  the 
work,  and  faith  to  remove  all  the  mountains  in  his  way. 

On  the  first  day  of  January  following,  (1824)  our  Professor 
was  regularly  installed  into  his  new  office;  on  which  occa- 
sion he  preached  an  Inaugural  Discourse  before  the  Board 
of  Trustees,  and  the  large  audience  assembled,  from  the  text 
2  Tim.  iii.  16,  17.  M  scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of 
God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof  for  correc- 
tion, for  instruction  in  righteousness  ;  that  the  man  of  God 
may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  ivorks. 
In  discoursing  from  these  words,  after  giving  a  brief  but 
able  critical  explanation  of  the  text,  he  proceeded  to  show 
that  the  sacred  scriptures  were  the  source  from  which  the 
preacher  of  the  gospel  was  to  derive  all  that  doctrine  which 
had  authority  to  bind  the  consciences,  and  regulate  the  con- 
duct of  men.  And  here  he  took  occasion  to  renew  for  him- 
self and  his  brethren,  and  all  concerned  in  the  institution,  the 
solemn  declaration  of  their  unalterable  attachment  to  the  great 
principles  of  religious  liberty,  (involved  in  the  proposition,) 
which  were  recognised  in  the  constitution  of  the  United  States, 
in  the  Bill  of  Rights,  and  constitution  of  Virginia,  and  in  the 
Act  establishing  Religious  Freedom,  which  met  the  cordial 
and  entire  approbation  of  all  of  them,  and  which  were  held, 
in  fact,  by  the  church  to  which  it  was  their  honour  and  privi- 
lege to  belong,  before  they  were  embodied  in  those  great 
charters  of  the  country.  He  next  proceeded  to  maintain 
"  That  the  scriptures  affi)rded  the  only  answer  to  the  all  im- 
portant question — "  What  must  we  do  to  be  saved  ;"  and 
afterwards,  "  that  they  contained  the  most  perfect  system  of 
morals  that  had  ever  been  presented  to  the  understanding,  or 
urged  on  the  conscience  of  man."  Hence  he  inferred,  "that 
he  who  receives  the  office  of  a  teacher  of  Christianity,  must  go 
to  his  Bible  for  all  that  authority  which  was  to  bind  the  con- 
science ;  for  all  that  a  man  must  believe  to  be  saved ;  and  for  all 
that  he  must  be  and  do,  to  be  prepared  for  Heaven  ;"  and  **  that 

23 


254  MEMOIR     OF 

he  is  the  best  theologian  who  is  most  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  scriptures."  "  And  from  this,"  said  he,  "  it  follows, 
that  the  great  duty  of  a  Professor  of  Theology  is  to  imbue 
the  minds  of  his  pupils  with  the  knowledge  of  revealed  truth. 
The  Bible  ought  to  be  the  great  text  book ;  and  the  whole 
course  of  study  should  be  so  laid  out  as  to  enable  the  student 
to  understand  and  explain  the  sacred  volume." 

"  But  where,"  he  asked,  "shall  the  student  of  divinity 
seek  that  instruction  which  he  needs  to  qualify  him  for 
his  work  ?  Is  a  public  or  a  private  education  to  be  prefer- 
red ?"  Here  he  took  occasion  to  enlarge  upon  the  important 
and  indeed  indispensable  advantages  of  Theological  Semina- 
ries, which  had  been  established  from  the  earliest  ages  of  the 
church,  and  were  particularly  necessary  in  our  own  country, 
where,  however,  those  already  established  were  too  few  for 
the  wants  of  the  people.  The  idea,  indeed,  of  one  great 
central  Seminary  for  the  whole  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
least,  which  had  been  so  fondly  cherished  by  some,  was  now 
abandoned  as  impracticable ;  and  it  was  apparently  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  establish  others  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  in  order  to  raise  native  preachers  for  the  supply  of 
the  churches  within  their  limits.  Hence  the  importance  of 
establishing  the  new  Seminary  for  Virginia  and  the  South, 
which  if  properly  endowed,  and  duly  furnished  with  ade- 
quate means  for  training  up  youth  of  piety  and  talents  for 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  and  for  those  various  offices  of  be- 
neficence which  well  instructed  pastors  were  wont  to  perform, 
must  prove  an  invaluable  blessing  to  the  whole  region.  Then, 
drawing  to  a  close,  and  naturally  adverting  to  his  own  situa- 
tion, and  the  unspeakable  importance  of  the  office  which  he 
was  now  to  assume,  he  closed  his  discourse  in  the  following 
words,  which  were  felt  in  all  their  hearts. 

"But  if  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  is  connected  with  so 
many  dear  and  valuable  interests;  if  it  extends  its  influence 
through  every  department  of  human  life,  and  involves  the 
awful  concerns  of  immortal  existence,  how  immeasurable  is 


DOCTOR    RICE.  255 

the  responsibility  of  those  whose  office  it  is  to  train  young 
men  for  that  ministry?  How  great  is  the  extent  of  know- 
ledge and  prudence  ;  how  deep  and  fervent  the  piety  required 
of  them  !  The  church  and  the  country,  are,  in  a  pecuUar 
manner,  interested  in  the  conduct  of  Theological  Seminaries, 
and  in  the  character  of  those  who.  manage  them. 

"No  one,  I  do  conscientiously  believe,  is  so  ready  to  de- 
clare, as  no  one  so  deeply  feels  my  own  insufficiency  as  I  my- 
self do.  And  in  this  case  there  is  no  affectation  of  humility 
in  saying,  that  I  should  neither  be  surprised  nor  offended  at 
the  question.  What  do  you  here  ?  In  answer,  I  would  say, 
the  office  was  not  of  my  seeking.  I  had,  indeed,  no 
earthly  motive  to  desire  it.  And  my  earnest  wish  was  to 
continue  where  Providence  had  placed  me.  In  accepting 
this  office,  I  made  the  greatest  sacrifice  that  I  ever  expect  to 
be  called  upon  to  make  in  this  world.  "  But  I  have  long 
been  of  the  opinion,  that  the  interests  of  the  Church  do 
most  urgently  require  a  Southern  Seminary;  I  believed 
the  place  fixed  on  peculiarly  suitable  from  the  character 
of  the  surrounding  population;  from  its  proximity  to 
a  literary  institution,  at  which  we  hope  that  many  pious 
young  men  will  be  educated  for  the  ministry  of  the  gospel; 
from  its  being  near  the  high-road,  which  runs  through 
the  centre  of  the  state  to  the  South;  and  from  the  fact 
that  the  citizens  of  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  Geor- 
gia, have  always  had  more  connexion  with  the  neigh- 
bouring college  than  with  any  other  institution  in  Virginia. 
But  what  is  more,  I  knew  that  the  institution  was  to  be 
under  the  particular  direction  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover, 
in  connexion  with  which  my  whole  ministerial  life  has 
been  spent;  whose  members  I  have  been  so  habituated  to 
love  and  honour,  that  use  has  become  second  nature ;  in 
whose  zeal,  prudence,  and  fraternal  love  I  have  been  accus- 
tomed to  place  the  highest  confidence ;  to  whose  counsels  I 
could   look   for   direction  and   assistance;    through  whose 


256  MEMOIR     OF 

prayers  I  hope  to  be  strengthened  and  encouraged ;  whose 
indulgence  I  have  often  experienced ;  and  who,  after  having 
known  me  for  many  years,  appointed  me  to  the  office, 
and  urged  my  acceptance  of  it.  In  weakness,  and  in  fear, 
and  in  much  trembhng,  I  consented.  And  now  I  am  here 
to  take  on  myself  the  required  engagements.  But  I  cannot 
go  forward  without  beseeching  my  brethren  in  the  ministry, 
and  all  christian  friends  who  hear  me  this  day,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  help  me  by  their  prayers.  So 
may  God  bless  you,  and  the  institution  which  your  pious 
zeal  is  erecting!  And  may  we  all  rejoice  together  in  seeing 
it,  as  a  copious  fountain  of  living  water,  sending  out  its 
streams  in  every  direction  to  fertilize  the  land,  and  make 
glad  the  city  of  our  God.  And  to  Him,  even  the  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  be  glory  by  the  church,  through  all 
ages.     Amen." 

When  he  had  thus  finished  his  discourse,  (amidst  the  tears 
of  all  who  heard  him)  the  Rev.  Mathew  Lyle,  the  President 
of  the  Board,  administered  to  him  the  oath,  or  solemn  en- 
gagement by  which  he  bound  himself  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  his  new  office,  with  all  fidelity  as  in  the  sight  of  God ; 
and  the  Rev.  Clement  Read,  a  member  of  the  Board,  who 
had  been  appointed  to  perform  the  service,  then  addressed 
him  in  a  solemn  and  impressive  charge,  in  which  after  glanc- 
ing at  the  high  responsibility,  and  deeply  interesting  charac- 
ter of  the  office  which  had  just  been  conferred  upon  him — 
the  great  importance  of  a  well-instructed  and  evangelical 
ministry — and  briefly  adverting  to  some  of  the  discourage- 
ments which  he  must  expect  to  encounter  in  the  prosecution 
of  his  work,  from  the  arduous  nature  of  the  work  itself,  from 
unfounded  jealousies  which  some  entertained  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  false  prejudices  against  it ;  from  the  ene- 
mies of  the  cross,  and  from  the  Powers  of  Darkness,  but 
above  all,  from  the  lukewarmness  of  friends,  and  "  the  im- 
pression already  among  many  of  them  that  a  Seminary,  com- 


DOCTOR    RICE. 


257 


menced  with  means  so  scanty,  could  hardly  succeed  ;  which 
naturally  tended  to  paralyze  exertion  in  its  favour"— he 
closed  his  address  in  the  following  words. 

*'  But  in  the  midst  of  discouragements,  there  is  much  to 
excite  hope,  and  quicken  exertion.  Our  funds,  though  hum- 
ble, must  augment,  as  the  necessity  of  a  Theological  Semi- 
nary for  the  southern  part  of  the  Church  shall  be  perceived 
and  felt ;  and  if  at  present  great  things  cannot,  something 
may  yet  be  done  for  the  interest  of  the  Church.  And  it 
should  be  remembered  that  the  rewards  of  faithfulness  will 
be  in  proportion  to  the  means  of  which  we  were  possessed. 
"  The  call,  Reverend  Sir,  which  you  have  received  from 
the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  to  the  highest  station  in  the 
Church  that  was  in  their  gift,  is  a  signal  proof  of  the  confi- 
dence of  that  reverend  body  in  your  talents  and  integrity, 
and  is  a  sure  pledge  of  their  future  support  in  the  discharge 
of  your  official  duties.  And  I  hazard  nothing  when  I  say 
that  you  will  have  the  undivided  support  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  of  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be  a  member.  And, 
judging  from  the  countenances  of  this  respectable  audience 
of  the  interest  which  they  feel  on  this  occasion,  I  am  per- 
suaded that  you  go  into  office  with  the.  good  wishes  and 
prayers  of  all  present ;  and,  above  all,  I  trust  with  the  bless- 
ing of  the  Head  of  the  Church,  whose  plaudit  in  your  fa- 
vour in  the  day  of  final  retribution,  '  Well  done,  good  and 
faithful  servant,'  will  be  a  full  compensation  for  your  labour 
of  love."  The  whole  services  of  the  occasion  were  highly 
interesting,  and  well  calculated  to  leave  deep  and  lasting  im- 
pressions in  the  hearts  of  all  present. 

He  was  now  desirous,  of  course,  to  obtain  a  site  for  the 
new  building  which  was  to  be  erected  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  students  and  his  family ;  and,  in  looking  about 
for  one,  he  was  very  happily  aided  by  his  friend  Mr.  Cush- 
ino-,  who  prevailed  upon  Mr.  Martin  Sailer,  a  resident  of  the 
neighbourhood,  to  give  him  a  small  piece  of  wood-land,  of 
about  five  acres,  not  far  from  the  college  grounds,  for  the 

23^ 


258  MEMOIR      OF 

purpose  in  view.  This  appeared  to  him  to  be  a  good  be- 
ginning of  his  work ;  for  the  plat,  he  saw,  was  well  situated, 
and  handsome,  rising  from  the  road  with  a  gentle  ascent,  and 
furnishing  a  fine  position  for  the  edifice  at  the  top,  with  a 
slope  for  a  lawn  in  front,  and  a  grove  in  the  rear ;  and  what 
gave  it  still  more  beauty  in  his  eyes,  he  learned  after  he  had 
obtained  it,  (from  some  of  the  old  ministers,)  that  it  was  the 
very  spot  to  which  the  pious  students  of  Hampden  Sydney, 
who  had  been  awakened  in  the  great  revival  which  had 
taken  place  under  the  preaching  of  the  Rev.  Johii  B.  Smith, 
about  fifty  years  before,  had  been  accustomed  to  retire  for 
secret  and  social  prayer, — so  that  it  was  already  "  hallowed 
ground  ;"  and  the  association  at  least  was  highly  interesting 
to  his  feelings. 

Not  long  afterwards,  (some  time  early  in  the  following 
summer,)  he  proceeded,  with  the  aid  of  his  friend,  to  lay 
off,  with  his  own  hand,  the  ground  plot  of  the  building ; 
which  he  had  soon  the  pleasure  to  see  actually  begun,  and 
going  up  before  his  eyes. 

After  this,  he  continued  during  the  whole  summer,  to  em- 
ploy himself  in  directing  the  studies  of  his  three  pupils,  su- 
perintending the  erection  of  the  new  edifice,  and  turning  his 
hand  occasionally  to  any  other  good  works  which  seemed  to 
claim  a  portion  of  his  attention.  Among  these  he  was  par- 
ticularly pleased  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Literary 
and  Philosophical  Society  of  Hampden  Sydney  College, 
which  he  had  planned  with  the  President,  for  the  purpose 
of  preserving  and  difiiising  a  taste  for  learning  and  letters, 
among  the  alumni  of  the  institution,  and  other  gentlemen 
throughout  the  state.  Accordingly,  he  attended  the  monthly 
meetings  of  the  resident  members,  and,  on  one  occasion,  we 
see,  read  a  "  Dissertation  on  the  utility  of  the  study  of  lan- 
guages, as  a  means  of  mental  improvement,"  which  was 
afterwards  published  in  the  magazine,  and  did  credit  to  his 
pen.  He  presided  also,  it  appears,  (for  he  was  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Society,)  at  the  annual  meeting,  which  was  held 


DOCTOR     RICE.  259 

the  day  after  the  commencement,  on  the  24th  of  September, 
of  this  year,  (1824,)  and  delivered  a  Discourse  on  the  occa- 
sion, explanatory  of  the  objects  of  the  association,  which 
was  heard  with  much  interest  by  all  who  were  present.  He 
was,  moreover,  an  honorary  member  of  the  '♦  Union  So- 
ciety," an  association  of  students  of  the  college,  so  called, 
and  occasionally  attended  its  meetings,  in  order  to  encourage 
the  youth  in  all  their  laudable  pursuits. 

In  the  mean  time,  he  was  by  no  means  forgetful  of  his 
magazine,  which  was  still  published  in  Richmond,  under 
the  more  immediate  care  of  several  friends ;  but  which  he 
continued  to  edit  himself  as  far  as  his  new  situation  would 
permit.  He  furnished,  accordingly,  various  articles  for  its 
pages  during  this  year  which  were  not  the  least  attractive 
parts  of  its  contents ;  and,  among  others,  a  review  of  two 
sermons  then  recently  published  by  Bishop  Ravenscroft,  of 
North  Carolina,  which  came  out  in  the  numbers  for  Novem- 
ber and  December,  and  was  read  with  no  small  interest  at 
the  time.  This  article,  indeed,  was  well  calculated  from  its 
subject  to  arrest  the  attention  of  all  professing  Christians  at 
least,  as  it  was  an  examination  of  the  divine  right  of  the 
Episcopal  Church  and  its  ministry,  which  the  zealous  Dio- 
cesan had  now  proclaimed  for  the  first  time  in  these  parts, 
under  the  title  of  the  "  Doctrine  of  the  Church,"  and  which 
he  declared  ought  to  be  duly  considered,  not  only  by  all  loyal 
Episcopalians  who  had  hitherto  treated  it  with  too  much  in- 
difference, but  by  all  schismatical  dissenters  also,  who  were 
neglecting  it  at  the  imminent  hazard  of  their  souls.  In  both 
these  discourses,  in  fact,  he  maintained  strenuously  that  ac- 
cording to  the  Scriptures  there  is  but  one  Church  in  the 
world,  which  is  called  in  the  creed,  "  the  holy  Catholic 
Church,"  and  more  definitely  in  the  Nicene  creed,  "  the 
Catholic  and  Apostolic  Church,"  by  which  last  term,  he  tells 
us,  is  to  be  understood  "  the  derivation  of  that  autliority  which 
was  committed  to  the  Apostles  by  Christ  himself,  for  the 
foundings  extending^  establishing,  and  orc?enng  his  Church 


260  MEMOIR     OP 

to  the  end  of  the  world — and  this  in  such  a  sense  as  is  '*  oppo- 
sed to  every  other  derivation  of  authority  whatever  '^"^  that 
to  this  Church  which  God  alone  has  founded,  he  has  com- 
mitted his  gospel  which  is  the  proclamation  of  his  grace,  and 
his  sacraments  which  are  its  pledges  and  seals  to  the  souls  of 
all  believers  ;  that  the  ministers  of  this  Church  have  derived 
their  authority  to  preach  the  word  and  administer  the  sacra- 
ments by  regular  succession  from  the  Apostles,  who  had 
theirs  immediately  from  Christ  himself,  and  are  therefore 
the  only  "  authorized  agents"  of  the  Redeemer,  now  on  earth, 
to  offer  that  pardon  and  peace  which  are  promised  to  men 
only  upon  the  condition  (and  he  afterwards  adds  the  previ- 
ous conAiiiow,)  of  their  being  jnembers  of  the  Church,  and  to 
administer  those  sacraments  which  are  to  assure  them  as 
such  of  their  salvation ;  that  the  truth  of  their  having 
this  sole  and  exclusive  authority  is  "  verifiable  as  a  fact"  by 
the  Scriptures  themselves,  and  by  "  a  shorter  method," 
which  is  the  actual  proof  of  its  regular  transmission  through 
successive  bishops  from  the  age  of  the  Apostles  down  to  the 
present  day. 

Thus  it  appeared,  that  not  satisfied,  like  the  rest  of  his 
Episcopalian  brethren,  to  maintain  that  their  branch  of  the 
Church  was  the  most  ancient  and  honourable  in  the  state, 
and,  moreover,  the  most  scriptural  in  its  shape,  and  in  its 
very  leaves,  the  good  bishop  was  seriously  determined  to 
contend,  that  it  was  actually  the  very  t?nmk  of  the  tree,  or 
rather  the  whole  tree,  which  (most  unnaturally  indeed,)  was 
all  trunk,  and  had,  in  fact,  no  branches  to  call  its  own.* 

*  I  hope  no  one  will  suppose  from  what  I  have  here  said,  or  may 
hereafter  say,  of  the  opinions  of  this  gentleman,  that  I  feel  any  thing- 
like unkindness  towards  his  memory.  I  knew  bishop  Ravenscroft  per- 
sonally, (though  not  intimately,)  and  esteemed  him  highly  as  an  honest, 
able,  and  zealous  preacher  of  the  gospel.  He  was,  indeed,  like  Apollos, 
"  an  eloquent  man ;"  but  I  cannot  add  that  he  was  "  mighty  in  the  Scrip- 
tures ;"  for  the  truth  is,  that  he  was  by  no  means  as  conversant  with  them 
as  he  ought  to  have  been.     He  had  been  called  into  the  ministry  late  in 


DOCTOR     RICE.  261 

Now  it  may  be  thought,  (as  it  was  by  many  at  the  time,) 
that  a  "doctrine"  so  absurd  on  its  face,  and  so  palpably 
contrary  to  the  whole  tenor  and  genius  of  the  gospel,  and  to 
the  liberal  spirit  of  our  Southern  christians,  could  hardly 
have  been  very  dangerous,  and  might  have  been  very  safely 
left  to  fall  by  its  own  fatuity  into  the  disgrace  which  it  de- 
served. Doctor  Rice,  however,  (as  he  tells  us  himself  in  a 
subsequent  writing,)  "  thought  differently,"  and  for  reasons 
which  he  has  assigned.  Thus  he  says:  " It  has  for  some 
time  appeared  obvious  to  us,  that  there  is  growing  up  a  spirit 
in  this  country,  which  seeks  for  marks  of  distinction  between 
itself  and  the  mass  of  the  people.  As  Infidelity  is  out  of 
fashion,  and  Unitarianism  is  not  popular  to  the  South,  there 
is  a  great  demand  among  people  of  a  certain  sort,  (to  use  a 
phrase  current  among  all  good  cavaliers  ever  since  the  "  mer- 
ry days  of  king  Charles,")  for  "a  religion  fit  for  a  gentle- 
man." There  is,  also,  among  many  of  our  republicans,  a 
passion  for  pomp  and  show  in  religious  worship.  Others, 
moreover,  too  indolent,  and  too  much  devoted  to  the  world,  to 
secure  a  scriptural  evidence  of  their  being  in  a  state  of  salva- 
tion, are  wiUing  enough  to  look  to  their  priests  for  assurance. 
High-church  notions,  then,  do  not  sink  under  the  influence 
of  public  opinion.  It  is  necessary  to  make  efforts  to  pull 
them  down.  The  interests  of  the  church  and  of  the  country 
require  it."  At  the  same  time,  as  the  good  Bishop,  in  order  to 
clear  his  skirts,  as  he  said,  from  the  blood  of  Dissenters,  had, 

life,  and  without  much  previous  study,  or  preparation  of  any  kind,  and,  of 
course,  was  but  a  poor  theologian ;  nor  had  he,  I  beheve,  much  learning 
of  any  sort— certainly  none  to  spare.  Still  his  strong  mind,  and 
stronger  feeling,  inspiring  a  fervid  and  energetic  elocution,  made 
him  an  impressive  speaker,  and  his  ardent  advocation  of  the  leading 
doctrines  of  the  gospel  justly  commanded  great  respect ;  so  that  I 
really  feel  every  disposition  to  regard  his  unfortunate  misapprehension 
of  tlie  true  doctrine  of  the  Catholic  church,  with  as  much  allowance 
as  the  nature  of  the  case  will  fairly  permit. 


262  MEMOIR     OF 

very  charitably,  warned  them  all  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  by  flying  to  the  altar  of  the  only  church,  our  Pro- 
fessor naturally  felt  himself  particularly  called  upon,  both 
as  a  dissenting  preacher,  and  the  editor  of  a  dissenting 
periodical,  to  answer  the  summons.  Averse,  therefore,  as 
he  was  to  controversy,  (and  we  have  seen  how  carefully  he 
had  hitherto  avoided  it,)  he  felt  himself  constrained  at  last, 
by  a  sense  of  duty,  to  take  up  his  pen  in  defence  of  himself 
and  his  brethren  of  all  denominations,  and  indeed  of  chris- 
tian liberty  itself,  against  the  claims  and  pretensions  of  their 
high-church  assailant.  Accordingly,  in  the  numbers  of  the 
magazine  for  November  and  December  of  this  year,  he 
published  the  review  of  the  sermons  already  mentioned,  in 
which  he  examined  the  new  "  doctrine  of  the  church," 
with  a  force  and  freedom  which  he  had  not  hitherto  dis- 
played upon  this  subject;  but,  at  the  same  time,  with  a 
spirit  of  candour  and  christian  moderation  that  was  altoge- 
ther proper  and  becoming.  The  publication,  was,  of  course, 
read  by  many  at  the  time,  and  with  great  satisfaction  by  all 
the  Dissenters  at  least,  in  the  state. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Hainpden  Sydney  College,  Dec.  11  th,  1824. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Our  last  mail  brought  me  your  acceptable  letter.  I  wish 
that  I  had  more  time  to  spend  in  writing  to  you.  But  you 
will  have  to  accept  of  a  very  hasty  note. 

I  take  a  very  deep  interest  in  the  Domestic  Missionary 
Society.  And  as  a  pledge  of  this  interest,  I  am  very  wil- 
ling to  prepare,  as  soon  as  I  can,  a  tract  on  the  subject, 
which  I  will  forward  to  you  as  soon  as  I  shall  finish  it,  I 
like  the  idea  well. 

I  think  the  best  thing  the  Society  ever  did  was  to  employ 
Mr.  Bruen.  He  is  a  man  that  I  love  much;  and  I  will 
thank  you  to  tell  him  so.  Indeed  I  love  many  in  New  York ; 
and  if  I  were  not  engaged  as  I  am  here,  I  should  prefer 


DOCTOR      RICE.  263 

taking  up  my  abode  with  the  choice  spirits  of  your  city,  and 
labouring  in  that  great  vineyard,  to  any  thing  else  I  know  in 
the  world. 

As  to  your  employing  an  agent  in  Virginia ;  it  is  my  be- 
lief that  a  suitable  person  will  do  a  great  deal  of  good ;  but 
probably  accomplish  very  little  towards  the  increase  of 
your  funds.  It  would  be  difficult  to  persuade  the  few  among 
us  who  do  any  thing,  that  they  ought  to  send  money  for 
missionary  purposes  out  of  the  State,  when  they  know  that 
three  fourths  of  our  territory  is  missionary  ground.  Yet, 
while  they  know  this,  there  is  no  exertion  corresponding  to 
the  deplorable  desolation  that  spreads  around  them.  ?ome 
extraordinary  effort  is  necessary  to  rouse  their  attention. 
The  plan  of  the  Domestic  Missionary  Society  would  meet 
general  approbation.  And  a  popular  agent  would  excite 
much  attention.  I  think,  too,  that  he  would  be  able  to  form 
a  number  of  corresponding  societies,  which  would  agree  to 
send  you  an  annual  report,  and  to  receive  assistance  from 
you  ;  and  that  in  this  way  the  range  of  your  influence  might 
be  greatly  extended,  and  a  portion  of  your  energy  commu- 
nicated. I  do  think  that  an  opportunity  of  circulating  your 
annual  reports  to  a  wide  extent,  would  be  worth  all  that 
such  an  agency  would  cost.  For  my  part,  I  should  be  ex- 
ceedingly glad  that  your  last  report  should  be  read  by  every 
christian  family  in  the  nation. 

I  am  truly  gratified  to  hear  that  you  bear  in  mind  our  in- 
fant seminary.  It  is  a  difficult  work  to  build  it  up  ;  but  by 
the  help  of  the  Lord,  I  think  it  will  finally  succeed.  We 
have  five  or  six  promising  students  in  the  seminary ;  eight 
or  ten  in  the  neighbouring  college,  who  will  join  us  as  soon 
as  they  get  through ;  and  several  from  the  south  and  the 
west  who  are  coming  on  shord3^  If  we  had  sufficient  funds, 
the  number  could  be  easily  doubled  every  year,  for  several 
years  to  come.  Pray  for  us.  Ask  all  your  brethren  to  pray 
for  u  . 

Present  me  afl?ectionately  to  Mr.  Litde,  to  Mr.  Baldwin, 


264  MEMOIR     OF 

and  to  all  my  good  friends  in  New  York,  with  whom  you 
may  happen  to  meet. 

Excuse  this  hasty  scratch.  May  the  Lord  be  with  you, 
and  make  you  useful  in  his  vineyard. 

With  sincere  Christian  affection, 
I  am,  &c., 

J.  H.  Rice. 

To  the  Christian  friends,  through  whose  affectionate  libe- 
rality, I  was  made  a  member  for  life  of  the  U,  F. 
M.  S, 

Theological  Seminary,  Feb,  lOth,  1825. 
Accept  my  grateful  acknowledgments  for  this  token  of 
respect  and  kindness.  No  part  of  the  Church  is  so  dear  to 
me  as  that  of  which  I  was  once  pastor.  I  know  of  no 
words  by  which  I  can  so  fully  express  my  habitual  feelings 
towards  you,  as  by  those  of  the  apostle  Paul  in  the  Epistle 
to  the  Philippians,  first  chapter,  from  the  3d  to  the  11th 
verse,  to  which  I  refer  you.  Let  it  be  your  constant  prayer 
too,  that  what  is  contained  in  the  verse  immediately  follow- 
ing, may  be  verified  in  the  change  which  has  separated  me 
from  you. 

Allow  me  to  say,  that  your  token  of  love  was  the  more 
grateful,  because  it  was  contemporaneous  with  one  of  the 
same  kind  to  your  present  pastor.  It  is  delightful  to  see 
christian  affection  extended  without  being  weakened.  I 
remember  with  gratitude  to  God,  the  fine  harmonious  feel- 
ings which  pervaded  the  whole  body,  when  I  presided  at 
your  late  election.  And  it  is  my  constant  prayer,  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  so  rule  in  your  hearts,  that  at  all 
times  you  shall  be  like  minded,  having  the  same  love,  "being 
of  one  accord,  of  one  mind." 

I  thank  God  that  your  sympathy  has  been  excited  for  the 
poor  Indians  on  our  borders.  We  are  debtors  to  them,  to 
send  among  them  the  gospel  of  Christ.  The  first  duty  of 
christians  in  this  country,  is  to  provide  for  the  spiritual 


DOCTOR     RICE.  265 

wants  of  our  fellow-citizens ;  the  second,  to  regard  the  con- 
dition of  the  African  race ;  and  the  third,  to  civilize  and 
christianize  the  Indians.  One  of  these  ought  not  to  inter- 
fere with  the  other,  but  each  should  receive  its  proper  share 
of  attention.  May  you  never  be  "weary  in  well  doing," 
*'  for  in  due  season  you  shall  reap  if  you  faint  not." 
With  more  affection  than  I  can  express, 

I  am  most  truly  yours, 

Jno.  H.  Rice. 

The  prospect,  or  rather  vision,  (as  it  might  yet  be  called) 
of  his  future  seminary,  was  now  growing  brighter  and 
more  distinct  every  day;  and,  accordingly,  the  prevailing 
tone  of  his  mind  appears  to  have  been  that  of  cheerful 
hope.  There  were  still,  however,  some  ominous  sha- 
dows about  it,  and,  as  we  might  expect,  he  was  occa- 
sionally filled  with  distressing  apprehensions  of  the  final 
failure  of  his  enterprise ;  and,  at  times,  almost  overwhelmed 
with  an  oppressive  sense  of  the  difficulties  before  him.  Of 
these,  by  far  the  greatest,  in  his  view,  was  the  want  of 
that  confidence  in  the  practicableness  of  his  plans,  and  the 
consequent  lack  of  that  cordial  co-operation  with  him  in  his 
undertaking,  which  he  thought,  with  some  reason,  that  he 
had  a  right  to  expect  from  his  brethren  about  him;  but 
which  he  found,  (or  fancied)  that  they  were  rather  inclined 
to  withhold.  In  this  state  of  feeling,  he  was  very  naturally 
disposed  to  view  every  thing  in  the  most  gloomy  light,  and 
to  desire  at  least,  most  anxiously,  that  something  might  be 
done  that  should  infuse  a  new  spirit  into  the  whole  body  of 
them,  and  animate  them  into  more  activity  in  the  cause. 
But  to  do  this,  he  could  devise  no  better  expedient  than  to 
urge  his  friend  Dr.  Alexander  to  visit  this  scene  of  his 
youthful  labours,  where  he  seems  to  have  thought  that  his 
presence  and  preaching  would  operate  like  a  perfect  charm, 
and  produce  the  most  happy  efl^ects.  With  this  view,  he 
24 


266  MEMOIR     OF 

addressed  a  long  letter  to  that  gentleman  from  which  we  give 
the  following  part  in  point. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D,  D. 

Hampden  Sydney,  March  ISth,  1825. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

The  state  of  things  here  is  such  that  I  have  every  thing 
to  discourage  ine.  The  other  Presbyteries  have  avowedly 
thrown  off  all  interest  in  our  Seminary.  The  elder  bre- 
thren of  Hanover  Presbytery  have  kept  themselves  so  insu- 
lated, and  are  so  far  behind  the  progress  of  things  in  this 
country,  and  the  general  state  of  the  world,  that  they  think 
of  nothing  beyond  the  old  plans  and  fashions,  which  pre- 
vailed seventy  years  ago.  In  fact,  there  is  nothing  like 
united,  active  exertion  to  build  up  this  institution,  and  I 
often  fear  that  the  effort  will  fail.  Had  I  known  what  I 
know  now,  T  certainly  would  not  have  accepted  the  office 
which  I  hold.  But  now  I  have  put  my  hand  to  the  plough, 
and  am  not  accustomed  to  look  back.  There  is,  however, 
a  sea  before  me,  the  depth  of  which  I  cannot  fathom,  and 
the  width  such  that  T.  cannot  see  over  it. 

Some  say  one  thing,  and  some  another,  but  in  many 
parts  of  our  Synod  there  is  a  talk  about  this  Seminary 
being  hostile  and  injurious  to  Princeton,  and  I  do  from  my 
heart  wish  that  it  could  be  silenced.  If  I  thought  it  was 
so,  I  would  resign  to-morrow.  For  I  can  truly  say,  that  no 
institution  in  the  country  is  as  dear  to  me  as  the  Seminary 
of  Princeton,  because  I  think  it  more  important  to  the  well 
being  of  the  Church  than  any  other. 

But  now  for  the  application.  I  have  given  you  this 
dismal  account  of  Virginia,  to  convince  you  that  you 
7nust  come  to  this  state  during  your  next  vacation.  I  do 
think  that  it  is  a  duty  which  you  owe  to  your  native 
land.  The  only  way  to  drive  out  all  these  bad  feelings  of 
which  I  have  spoken,  is  to  excite  others  of  a  contrary  char- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  267 

acter.  It  cannot  be  expected  according  to  human  proba- 
bilities, that  the  brethren  here  can  do  it.  Many  uncomfort- 
able feelings  are  associated  with  them.  But  all  love  you  with 
unabated  afiection,  and  regard  you  with  peculiar  reverence. 
Your  presence  would  awaken  a  new  set  of  feelings.  A 
few  sermons  from  you  would  do  more,  at  this  time,  for  the 
real  good  of  the  church  here,  than  any  human  means  that  I 
can  think  of.  And  I  am  sure  that  you  would  hear  and  see 
little,  if  any  thing,  of  the  complaints  and  troubles  that 
exist;  for  the  people  would  be  ashamed  to  let  you  know 
how  they  feel. 

If  you  could  but  have  witnessed  the  universal  burst  of  joy, 
when  it  was  understoood  that  you  were  coming,  and  the 
deep  disappointment  expressed  by  every  one,  on  hearing 
that  probably  you  would  not  come,  you  would  then  know 
what  influence,  under  the  divine  blessing,  you  could  exert 
here.  I  do  deliberately  and  conscientiously  believe  that  it 
is  your  duty  to  come. 

You  can  with  the  greatest  ease  get  to  Petersburg  by  stages 
and  steamboats.  There  are  more  carriages  now  in  this 
neighbourhood  than  I  ever  saw  in  any  country  place ;  and 
several  people  say  that  they  would  think  it  a  privilege  to  send 
for  you  to  Petersburg,  and  after  having  you  here  for  a  while, 
afford  you  facilities  for  getting  over  the  mountains.  You 
could  thence  find  a  conveyance  to  Fredericksburg,  and  so  on 
to  Princeton.  Now  do,  my  dear  sir,  think  of  these  things  seri- 
ously, before  you  make  up  your  mind  that  you  cannot  come. 
And  let  me  hear  from  you  on  the  subject  as  soon  as  possible. 

Our  University  has  just  gone  into  operation  with  about 
forty  or  fifty  students.  It  may  be  regarded  as  a  comet, 
which  has  for  the  first  time  just  made  its  appearance;  the 
orbit  of  which  of  course  is  not  determined.  The  aspect, 
however,  is  portentous  ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  we  shall 
feel  the  effects  of  the  prodigy  in  all  parts  of  the  state.* 

*  The  first  appearance  of  this  new  luminary  in  our  firmament  was 
indeed  rather  alarming,  and  seemed  to  bode  no  good.     He  continued. 


268  3IEM0IR     OF 


TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ,. 

Goochland,  ^pril2di  1825. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Have  I  not  good  reason  to  justify  my  love  of  the  good 
people  of  Norfolk — the  good  ladies  I  mean  ? 

Your  letter  came  to  hand,  as  you  may  suppose  from  this 
ntroduction  ;  and  I  return  thanks  to  you  for  your  kind  atten- 
tion ;  and  to  your  good  ladies  for  their  promptitude  in  exe- 
cuting the  business  committed  to  them. 

I  certainly  shall  like  our  Seminary  the  better  for  having 
"  Norfolk"  in  it.  Indeed  as  we  are  to  have  both  "Rich- 
mond" and  "  Petersburg"  there  too,  I  begin  to  think  that  we 
shall  make  out  to  live  with  tolerable  comfort. 

I  have  been  sent  for  to  organize  a  little  church  in  Pow- 
hatan— having  a  day  to  spare,  I  slipt  over  to  Goochland  to 
see  my  friends,  and  have  happened  to  meet  with  a  gentle- 
man going  to  Richmond,  by  whom  I  send  this  note.  He  is 
in  a  hurry, ''and  that  hurries  me. 

Give  my  love  to  your  mother,  and  to  all  my  dear  friends. 
I  have  been  long  absent  from  Norfolk ;  but  I  am  conscious 
of  no  weakening  of  affection  for  the  brethren  and  sisters 
there.  And  do  you  tell  them,  that  it  is  feeble  love  which 
absence  destroys ;  but  strong,  (such  as  mine)  is  rather  in- 
creased than  diminished.  Do  we  not  love  for  eternity  ? 
Most  truly  yours, 

J.  H.  Rice. 

however,  to  regard  it  with  hope  as  well  as  fear,  and  most  devoutly 
prayed  that  it  might  prove  a  "happy  constellation,"  and  "shed  its  se- 
lectest  influence"  upon  the  state  and  country.  Nor  was  his  prayer 
without  effect ;  for  its  present  aspect  is  certainly  auspicious.  Without 
a  figure,  the  establishment  of  public  worship  in  the  University,  and  of 
a  Bible  Society  among  the  students,  together  with  a  visible  improve' 
ment  in  the  whole  order  of  the  institution,  appear  to  authorize  the  hope 
which  we  indulge  that  its  future  radiations  will  be  not  only  brilliant  but 
benign. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  269 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Prince  Edward,  April  Qth,  1825. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  returned  home  last  evening  from  an  excursion  to  Pow- 
hatan, and  dnd  Mr.  G just  about  to  take  his  departure. 

He  is  urgent  to  go,  but  I  must  detain  him  while  I  drop  you 
a  few  lines.  Mr.  G.  has  pleased  us  all  very  much.  He 
would  be  very  popular  here ;  and  if  he  were  a  single  man,  I 
should  wish  him  very  much  to  come  to  the  South. 

I  went  to  Powhatan  to  give  some  assistance  to  Mr.  P . 

He  is  labouring  therewith  encouraging  prospects  of  success. 
I  do  hope  that  he  will  build  up  a  church  in  that  blighted  and 
desolate  region.  He  is  very  active  and  zealous,  and  is  at 
once  anxious  to  improve  himself,  and  do  good  to  the  people. 
He  has  gained  love  and  respect  more  rapidly,  and  to  greater 
extent,  than  I  expected.  Indeed  he  will  do  no  discredit 
to  Princeton,  or  Presbyterianism." 

About  this  time,  Dr.  Rice  found  himself  called  upon  to 
notice  another  sermon  which  the  Bishop  of  North  Carolina 
had  lately  preached  before  the  Bible  Society  of  that  state, 
and  afterwards  published,  and  in  which  he  made  what  was 
generally  considered  as  an  open  and  flagrant  attack  upon  the 
American  Bible  Society,  and  all  its  auxiliaries  throughout 
the  country ;  and  with  good  reason ;  for,  in  his  discourse, 
he  undertook  to  show  that  the  act  of  circulating  the  word 
of  God,  in  their  manner,  without  note  or  comment,  was  a 
most  pernicious  proceeding,  inasmuch  as  it  manifestly  im- 
plied as  a  fundamental  principle,  "  that  the  scriptures  are 
exclusively  sufficient  for  their  own  interpretation."  But 
this  principle,  he  contended,  was  "  unfounded  and  danger- 
ous, and  ultimately  subversive  of  all  revealed  religion." 
1st.  Because  it  falsely  supposed  that  the  structure  of  scrip- 
ture was  such  as  not  to  require  the  aid  of  a  skilful  interpre- 
ter to  explain  and  expound  it;  2.  Because  it  implied  that 
24* 


270  MEMOIR      OF 

man  was  not  a  fallen  creature,  and  therefore  so  averse  to 
the  truth  as  to  be  incapable  of  finding  it  out  by  a  mere  read- 
ing of  the  word  of  God;  and  3.  Because  it  implied  that 
the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  was  plainly  indis- 
pensable to  a  right  understanding  of  the  scriptures,  neces- 
sarily accompanied  the  reading  of  them;  all  which,  was 
contrary  to  fact,  and  to  the  Bible  itself.  It  was,  therefore, 
grossly  improper  to  unite  with  these  societies,  in  circulating 
the  scriptures  by  themselves,  as  it  involved,  in  fact,  the  radi- 
cal error  of  separating  the  word  of  God  from  his  ministry: 
whereas,  the  only  proper  mode  of  doing  the  thing,  was  to 
send  them  along  with  the  church,  or  the  preachers  of  it; 
to  wit,  the  "bishops  and  other  clergy"  of  the  one  only 
"Catholic  and  Apostolic"  church;  that  is,  the  Episcopal 
church,  of  course. 

Now  it  was  easy  to  see,  at  a  glance,  that  all  this  was  a 
mere  tissue  of  misconception  and  mistake  from  beginning  to 
end.  For,  in  the  first  place,  it  was  perfectly  plain  that  the 
act  of  distributing  the  word  of  God  without  note  or  comment, 
did  not  imply,  as  the  Bishop  so  strangely  assumed,  that 
"  the  scriptures  were  exclusively  sufiicient  for  their  own  in- 
terpretation," but  only  implied  in  fact,  that  they  might  do 
much  good  by  the  virtue  of  their  own  text,  (and  the  'grace 
of  God  along  with  it,)  without  tlie  gloss  of  any  interpreter 
whatever;  and  this  truth  he  admitted  himself.  And  how 
could  it  be  said  to  separate  the  word  of  God  from  his  church 
or  its  ministry,  when  it  was  actually  furnishing  the  people 
with  the  very  book  which  those  "  authorized  agents"  (who- 
ever they  were,)  who  were  duly  commissioned  and  qualified 
for  the  purpose,  were  to  expound  and  explain  ?  Or  could 
it  make  any  odds  how,  or  by  whom,  the  text-books  of  the 
teachers  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the  scholars  ?  Indeed 
the  hallucination  of  the  whole  argument  M'as  so  glaring  on 
its  face,  that  tlie  sermon  might  have  been  left  "  without  note 
or  comment,"  to  the  judgment  of  those  who  might  choose 
to  read  it,  even  among  his  own  denomination,  the  great  body 


DOCTOR     EICE.  271 

of  whom  were  much  more  likely  to  go  right  with  the  Bishop 
of  Virginia,  (who  was  the  President  of  the  Bible  Society  of 
the  state,)  than  to  go  wrong  with  the  Bishop  of  North  Car- 
olina. The  latter,  however,  had  no  small  authority  with 
many  in  his  own  diocess,  and  with  some  out  of  it;  and  Doc- 
tor Rice  was  too  cordially  attached  to  the  great  christian 
cause  of  Bible  Societies,  and  to  the  protestant  doctrine  of  the 
sufficiency  of  the  scriptures,  (which  the  Bishop  had  inciden- 
tally questioned,)  to  see  them  openly  assailed,  and  by  such  an 
enemy,  without  defending  them  against  his  attacks.  Accord- 
ingly, he  came  out  with  a  review  of  this  offensive  sermon, 
in  the  April  and  June  numbers  of  the  magazine,  in  which 
he  ably  and  thoroughly  exposed  the  errors  of  the  Bishop's 
discourse,  and  in  a  style  and  spirit  that  gave  entire  satisfac- 
tion, this  time,  to  all  his  readers.* 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Theological  Seminary,  June  25th,  1825. 
My  Dear  Christian  Brother, 

Our  last  mail  brought  me  your  very  acceptable  letter,  for 
which  I  beg  you  to  accept  my  sincere  thanks.  To  our 
heavenly  Father,  I  desire  to  render  gratitude  and  praise  for 
his  mercies  both  to  you  and  to  me,  in  sparing  our  lives,  and 

*  This  controversy  is  gone  by,  and  the  question  involved  in  it  is  not 
likely,  I  suppose,  to  be  raised  again,  or  I  should  have  given  some  ac- 
count of  the  argument  on  both  sides.  J  must  say,  however,  that  it 
was  really  rather  amusing  to  see  how  kindly  the  good  bishop  saved  his 
antagonists  the  trouble  of  answering  him,  by  very  fairly  answering  him- 
self  as  he  went  along.  Thus  after  asserting  that  the  act  of  distribu- 
ting the  Bible  without  note  or  comment,  as  our  Bible  societies  are  doing, 
is  dangerous  and  pernicious,  he  inadvertently  allows  that  there  are 
sojne  thingsin  the  Book  which  any  man  may  read  with  advantange  by 
himself.  Thus  he  says, "  tfie  preceptive  parts  of  revelation  are  plain  and 
perspicuous,  so  as  to  be  immediately  apprehended ;  those  which  are 
doctrinal  partake  of  different  degrees  of  clearness  according  to  the  na. 
ture  of  the  doctrine  inculcated;  and  those  which  are  mysterious,  are 
clothed  with  an  obscurity  which  even  the  angels  desire  to  look  into.  Yet 


272  MEMOIR     OF 

renewing  our  health.  May  we  have  grace  to  consecrate  life 
and  health  to  his  service  ;  and  when  we  are  called  to  suffer 

they  are  all  made  the  subject  matter  of  our  faith  and  obedience,  and 
operative  according  to  our  diligence  in  preparing  us  for  still  higher  and 
brighter  spiritual  attainments."  Obviously,  then,  by  his  ovi^n  showing, 
we  may  all  understand  the  "  preceptive  parts"  of  the  Bible,  and  some 
of  the  plainer  "  doctrines"  also,  (such,  for  instance,  as  the  cardinal  ones 
of  the  sinfulness  of  man,  and  salvation  by  the  grace  of  God  through  the 
imputed  righteousness  of  Christ,)  which  may  do  us  much  good,  and 
"become  the  subject  matter  oi"  our  faith  and  obedience,''^  enough  to 
save  our  souls,  and  even  prepare  the  way  "  for  those  higher  and  bright- 
er attainments"  which  the  angels  of  the  church  may  help  us  to  acquire; 
all  by  reading  our  Bibles  without  note  or  comment.  But  surely,  then, 
it  must  be  a  good  thing  to  circulate  them  freely ;  and  the  bishop  evi- 
dently forgot  what  he  had  said  when  he  concluded  that  it  was  wrong. 

Indeed  he  says  further,  and  still  more  explicitly,  in  the  preface  to  his 
sermon,  that  "  he  is  not,  by  any  means,  opposed  to  the  reading  of  the 
scriptures  without  a  commentator,  as  is  falsely  charged  against  him. 
On  the  contrary,  he  has  many  witnesses  how  earnestly  and  repeatedly 
he  presses  the  stud}' of  the  word  of  God  upon  his  hearers;  and  it  is  his 
invariable  rule,"  he  says,  "  when  consulted  what  commentator  to  be- 
gin the  reading  of  the  scriptures  with,  to  answer  none;  recommending 
to  all  to  he  first  well  grounded  in  the  scriptures  themselves,  by  reading, 
meditation,  and  prayer,  when  a  sound  and  judicious  commentator  may 
be  helpful,"  &c.  Obviously,  then,  he  could  have  had  no  difficulty  about 
giving  the  Bible  to  the  people  without  note  or  comment,  himself  But 
surely  what  he  could  safely  and  properly  do  himself,  he  ought  to  have 
seen  that  the  Bible  Society  might  do  as  well — unless  indeed,  (what  I 
can  hardly  suppose.)  he  imagined  there  was  some  peculiar  virtue  in  a 
bishop's  hands. 

Then  as  to  the  fancy  that  circulating  the  Bible  without  note  or  com- 
ment by  means  of  Bible  Societies,  separates  the  word  of  God  from  the 
ministry  of  the  church  ;  it  is  clearly  a  mere  conceit  and  nothing  more  : 
for  does  not  the  proceeding  still  leave  all  men  at  full  liberty  to  apply  to 
any  "authorized  agents"  (to  use  the  bishop's  own  phrase,)  who  may 
have  a  right  "  verifiable"  to  their  minds,  to  assist  them  in  interpreting 
the  more  obscure  parts  of  the  book  ?  And  will  it  not  even  prompt 
them  to  long  and  to  look  for  such  guides  ?  And  was  not  the  very 
Ethiopian  in  the  bishop's  text,  influenced  by  the  interest  which  the 
reading  of  the  book  of  the  prophet  liad  excited  in  his  breast,  to  desire 


DOCTOR     RICE.  273 

affliction,  may  we  glorify  him  by  humble  submission  to  his 
will ! 

I  bless  God,  who  put  it  into  the  heart  of  my  unknown 
friend  to  devote  money  enough  to  endow  a  scholarship  in 
our  young  seminary.  And  I  do  desire  to  be  thankful,  that 
you  have  been  enabled  to  authorize  me  to  bring  an  addition- 
al poor  and  pious  young  man  into  our  institution.  In  this 
respect  your  letter  came  in  most  excellent  time.  There  are 
as  many  as  three  or  four  young  men  who  will  be  ready  to 
enter  the  institution  next  fall,  for  whom  I  wish  to  make  pro- 
vision, and  I  was  casting  about  for  ways  and  means  by  which 
to  enable  them  to  do  this,  when  your  favour  came  to  hand. 

the  aid  of  the  preacher  who  so  providentially  presented  himself  at  the 
moment  to  assist  him  ?  The  truth  is,  it  is  almost  impossible  for  any 
one  to  read  the  scriptures  without  seeing  on  their  very  face,  and  feel- 
ing in  his  own  consenting  heart,  that  he  would  derive  a  great  benefit 
from  that  more  perfect  understanding  of  them  which  a  well-instructed 
minister  may  help  him  to  attain.  So  the  operation  of  the  Bible  Soci- 
ety does  not  draw  men  away  from  the  church  of  God,  but  leads  them 
to  it. 

Perhaps,  however,  the  Bishop  would  have  said  to  this  (as  he  seems  to 
have  thought),  that  though  the  reading  of  the  Bible  would  probably  put 
the  reader  in  mind  to  :io  to  soyne  church,  it  might  not  lead  him  to  his 
"Catholic  and  Apostolic"  one;  and  I  must  certainly  agree  that  it  mfo-^« 
not  indeed.  But  then,  if  he  really  believed,  what,  we  have  seen,  he 
maintained  in  his  former  discourses,  that  his  "  doctrine  of  the  church," 
or  the  exclusive  right  of  persons  episcopally  ordained  to  preach  and 
administer  the  sacraments,  was  "  verifiable  as  a  fad  from  ike  Scriptures 
themselves,''  he  surely  must  have  agreed  that  the  reading  of  them  was 
at  least  more  likely  to  lead  the  reader  to  his  true  church  than  to  any 
other ;  and,  of  course,  he  ought  to  have  been  very  thankful  that  "  dis- 
senters" of  other  denominations,  either  from  their  "  false  liberality,"  or 
their  shortsightedness,  would  unite  with  high-churchmen,  in  circulate 
ing  a  book  which  would  thus  work  against  themselves.  Apparently, 
however,  the  good  Bishop  was  not  so  well  satisfied  with  the  truth  of  his 
position  on  this  point,  as  not  to  think  that  it  would  at  least  be  somewhat 
safer  to  assist  the  Scriptures  a  little  by  the  «comme«e"  of  a  "duly  au- 
thorized" interpreter.  But  enough  of  this.  As  I  said,  the  error,  I  hope, 
is  dead.     Requiescat  in  pace. 


274  MEMOIR     OF 

And  now  permit  me  to  say  that  I  know  two  young  men  of 
considerable  promise,  whose  circumstances  are  such,  that, 
if  the  $175,  mentioned  by  you,  could  be  divided  between 
them,  I  think  they  both  might  be  enabled  to  enter  the  semi- 
nary the  beginning  of  next  term,  and  pursue  their  studies 
through  the  whole  course,  with  that  aid  received  annually 
for  three  years.  And  if  you  will  permit  me,  I  will  proceed 
at  once  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  that  purpose. 
This,  it  seems  to  me,  will  be  making  a  good  use  of  $175  a 
year,  for  the  time.  Thanks  be  to  God,  for  any  good  done 
in  this  world — especially  for  any  good  done  for  our  poor 
southern  country  ! 

I  have  lately  been  making  a  calculation  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  the  destitute  state  of  this  region.  The  result  is, 
that,  take  our  population  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Missis- 
sippi, not  more  than  one  fifth  part  acknowledges  a  connec- 
tion with  the  Church  of  Christ  in  any  form.  And  of  this 
fifth,  more  than  three  fourths  are  under  the  guidance  of 
extremely  ignorant  preachers — many  of  them  decided  An- 
tinomians !  Is  not  this  appalling  ?  Yet  the  friends  of 
Zion  have  encouragement.  For  almost  any  where  in  all 
this  region,  a  missionary  sent  out  with  a  right  spirit,  to 
labour  on  right  principles,  can  build  up  a  church.  It  will, 
indeed,  be  weak  at  first ;  but  it  will  grow  ;  and  by  and 
by  be  able  to  support  itself.  O !  if  we  only  had  the 
means  of  raising  up  labourers  of  the  true  gospel  stamp,  we 
should  produce  a  mighty  change  in  this  Vv'hole  country, — a 
change  in  morals,  in  manners,  in  every  thing  connected 
with  man's  best  hopes  and  dearest  interests.  Do,  my  dear 
Brother,  continue  to  pray  for  us  ;  and  urge  all  our  friends  in 
New  York  to  do  the  same.  We  greatly  need  your  prayers, 
and  all  the  aid  you  can  give  us.  Our  people  here  are  doing 
something ;  but  they  are  feeble,  and  need  encouragement. 

Shall  I  pay  a  visit  again,  to  New  York?  Will  it  be 
well  for  me  to  come  this  autumn?  I  wish,  speedily,  to  get 
the   best   information   I  can   on  this  subject.     And  I  will 


DOCTOR     RICE.  275 

frankly  state  the  reasons  why  I  wish,  if  there  is  any  hope 
of  success,  to  come  on  this  season. 

1.  Numbers  in  the  South,  who  admit  the  importance  and 
necessity  of  a  Southern  Institution,  have  taken  up  the 
opinion  that  our  undertaking  is  hopeless ;  and  their  efforts 
are  paralyzed  by  despondency.  And  if  we  could  get  fully 
under  way^  with  good  prospects  of  success,  they  would 
feel  all  the  energy  of  hope,  and  we  could  command  all  the 
resources  of  the  Church  to  the  South.  Many,  too,  who 
are  now  out  of  the  Church  might  be  induced  to  give  us  aid, 
if  they  were  sure  we  should  succeed. 

2.  Any  thing  like  decisive  aid  from  the  North,  would 
awaken  a  spirit  in  the  people  far  South  of  us;  and  we 
should  see  them  coming  in  to  receive  the  benefits  of  an  In- 
stitution which  Northern  christians  think  valuable  enough 
to  command  their  assistance. 

3.  About  enough  now  has  been  accomplished  to  con- 
vince all  the  friends  of  our  Institution,  that  if  we  will  go 
zealously  forward,  we  shall  succeed  beyond  all  doubt. 
And  nothing  seems  to  be  wanting  to  give  new  vigour  to 
their  exertions,  as  well  as  to  gain  new  friends,  but  a  good 
strong  hand  at  this  moment  to  help  us.  Without  this, 
however,  I  fear  that  languor  will  seize  our  people;  and 
they  will  decline  in  their  efforts. 

I  do  regard  this  as  a  critical  time  then: — one  in  which 
help  will  be  most  efficient.  I  cansee  this,  in  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  the  communication  with  which  you  favoured  me. 
Do  you  then,  and  friend  Baldwin,  and  others  of  my  friends, 
confer  together,  and  give  me  at  once  the  best  advice  you 
can. 

I  owe  you  an  apology  for  not  having  sent  you  the  pro- 
mised Tract  on  Missions.  The  truth  is,  I  wanted  to  pro- 
duce something  as  good  as  possible  for  a  service  so  impor- 
tant ;  and  put  it  off  for  a  leisure  time.  But  since  you  heard 
from  me,  I  have  been  obliged  to  write  one  week  with 
another,  as  much  as  is  equivalent  to  five  sermons  a  week. 


276  M  E  M  O  I  R      O  F 

Strange  as  it  may  appear,  too,  and  out  of  character  for  me, 
I  have  been  engaged  in  a  sort  of  controversy.  One  of  the 
foremost  men,  and  a  bishop  too,  in  the  Episcopal  church, 
has  come  out  against  Bible  Societies,  in  a  way  exceeding 
Bishop  Hobart.  It  is  Dr.  Ravenscroft,  of  North  Carolina. 
It  has  fallen  to  me  to  review  his  writings,  and  oppose  his 
principles.  It  seemed  an  urgent  service,  and  I  could  not 
decline  it.  That  now  is  done,  and  I  hope  for  more  leisure. 
It  is  still  my  purpose  to  send  you  the  best  thing  I  can  on 
Domestic  Missions. 

May  the  Lord  bless  you,  and  all  yours.  Give  my  fra- 
ternal love  to  my  friends  as  you  may  happen  to  see  them, 
Remember,me  to  the  Committee  of  the  Missionary  Society. 
God  be  with  them. 

Your  friend  and  brother, 

John  H.  Rice. 

About  this  time,  he  was  delighted  to  receive  the  promised 
visit  of  his  friend  Dr.  Alexander,  who  had  come  by  the 
way  of  Norfolk  and  Petersburg,  to  Prince  Edward,  and 
now  came  to  lodge  with  him  in  his  "old  quarters,"  in 
the  house  of  the  President  of  Hampden  Sydney  College. 
The  meeting  between  them  vvas  doubtless  very  agreeable  to 
both  parties,  and  particularly,  we  may  suppose,  to  our  Pro- 
fessor, who  took  great  pleasure  in  showing  his  guest  his 
new  building,  (a  very  decent  edifice  then  fairly  covered  in, 
and  finishing  off  inside  with  all  despatch,)  and  in  unfolding 
his  views  and  plans  for  the  future  enlargement  of  the  insti- 
tution, which  had  now  assumed  their  final  form,  and  were 
substantially  these.  In  the  first  place,  he  proposed  to  open 
a  subscription  on  a  large  scale,  to  raise  the  sum  of  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars,  for  the  founding  of  three  Professor- 
ships in  the  Seminary,  and  thus  make  the  establishment 
complete  at  once.  At  the  same  time,  he  intended  to  make 
specific  collections,  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the  neces- 
sary buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  a  hundred  students, 


DOCTOR     RICE.  277 

and  the  houses  for  the  professors,  as  they  might  be  needed. 
In  the  next  place,  to  enlist  all  the  churches  of  the  state,  and 
of  North  Carolina,  in  the  support  of  the  institution,  it  would 
be  proper  to  transfer  it  back  again,  in  the  first  instance,  from 
the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  under  which  it  now 
was,  to  the  care  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  and  afterwards, 
by  some  proper  arrangement  between  them,  to  place  it  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  two  Synods  of  the  states  just  men- 
tioned; and  perhaps  also  of  the  Synod  of  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia,  if  that  body  could  be  brought  (as  he  sometimes  flat- 
tered himself  it  might.)  to  drop  the  small  school  which  it 
was  talking  about  raising  within  its  own  bounds,  and  come 
into  his  larger  views.  In  the  mean  time,  to  secure  the 
funds  which  were  to  be  raised,  (and  in  fact  to  promote  the 
raising  of  them  by  making  the  contributors  feel  that  their  do- 
nations would  be  safe,)  as  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state 
had  refused  to  grant  a  charter  to  the  Trustees,  it  would  be 
necessary  and  proper  to  apply  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  church,  which  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  Pennsylvania,  to  take  the  Seminary  and  its  stock 
under  their  care ;  and  in  so  doing,  that  body  might  adopt  some 
formal  agreement  with  the  Synods  that  would  secure  the 
due  subordination  of  their  institution  to  its  own  authority,  so 
as  to  preserve  the  integrity  and  harmony  of  the  whole  sys- 
tem. 

Such  was  the  plan  in  all  its  extent,  which  he  proposed  to 
accomplish  however,  of  course,  by  degrees,  involving,  as  we 
may  see  at  a  glance,  the  combination  of  a  great  variety  of 
conflicting  interests,  schemes,  and  feelings,  and  presenting 
almost  insuperable  difficulties  at  every  step  ;  but  which  we 
shall  find  him  actually  accomphshing  at  last,  by  patience, 
perseverance,  and  the  blessing  of  God,  with  complete  suc- 
cess. 

The  first  thing,  then,  now  to  be  done,  according  to  this 
scheme,  was  to  begin  to  raise  the  funds  for  the  endowment  of 
the  Professorships.  And  here  he  rightly  judged  that  it  woidd 

25 


278  MEMOIR     OF 

be  proper  to  open  his  subscription,  in  the  first  instance,  at 
home;  for  if  he  could  succeed,  as  he  might  fairly  hope  to 
do,  in  getting  a  handsome  sum  subscribed  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  Seminary,  and   in  other  parts  of  the  state,  he 
might  more  confidently  expect  the  contributions  of  distant 
brethren,  from  the  assurance  which  it  would  give  them  that 
their  donations  would  not  be  thrown  away ;  while  the  liber- 
ality of  these  last  again  would  not  only  encourage  the  first  in 
the  same  manner,  but  further  stimulate  them  by  a  proper 
pride,  and  sense  of  character,  to  do  their  best.     In  this  way, 
he  trusted  that  he  should  be  able  to  excite  a  generous  emula- 
tion between  christians  of  the  vSouth  and  North,  and  bring 
them  all  to  unite  together  in  advancing  his  object  with  the 
greatest  effect.     As  he  could  not,  however,  leave  his  duties 
at  the  Seminary,  for  any  long  period,  it  was  necessary  for 
him  to  find  an  agent  for  the  work ;  and,  most  happily,  a  young 
missionary  from  the  Seminary  at  Princeton,  by  the  name  of 
Robert  Roy,  was  then  labouring  in  the  county  of  Nottoway, 
close  by,  who  he  thought,  from  his  principles  and  feelings, 
would  be  the  very  man  for  his  purpose.     He  hastened,  ac- 
cordingly, to  enlist  him  in  the  service,  and  was  glad  to  find 
that  he  was  ready  to  engage  in  it  at  once  with  that  prompt 
and   cheerful  spirit  which  seemed  to  promise  as  well  as 
hope  for  success  ;  and,  availing  himself  now  of  the  fine  spirit 
which  he  saw  that  the   "  talk"  of  his  friend.  Dr.  Alexander, 
(who  had  just  left  him,)  had  excited,  he  sallied  out  with  his 
new  aid  to  the  neighbouring  county  of  Charlotte,  and  opened 
the  subscription  there  among  the  people  of  his  former  pasto- 
ral charge,  whom  he  now  called  upon  to  give  a  proper  lead 
in  the  noble  enterprise  before  them.     The  appeal  was  an- 
swered at  once  with  great  liberality,  and  the  example  of 
Charlotte  was  immediately  followed  by  Prince  Edward  with 
equal  spirit ;  when,  leaving  Mr.  Roy  to  pursue  the  work 
alone.  Doctor  Rice  returned  to  the  Seminary  to  perform  his 
proper  duties  there. 

But  whilst  the  Professor  was  thus  pursuing  his  plans,  the 


DOCTOR     RICE.  279 

bishop  of  North  Carolina,  whose  sermon  before  the  Bible 
Society  of  that  state,  already  mentioned,  had  excited  no  small 
criticism  in  his  own  diocess,  had  thought  proper  to  come 
out  with  another,  in  further  explanation  and  defence  of  his 
views  on  the  subject,  entitled,  "a  Sermon  on  the  Study  and 
Interpretation  of  the  Scriptures,"  which  he  preached  accord- 
ingly in  the   Episcopal  Chapel  at  Raleigh  on   the  20th  of 
March,  of  this  year,  and  which  was  afterwards  published  by 
the  vestry  of  the  church,  for  the  benefit  of  all  concerned ; 
and  the  bishop,  who,  it  seems,  had  felt  himself  particularly 
galled  by  our  reviewer's  critique  of  the  first,  thought  proper 
to  send  him  a  copy  of  the  last,  with  a  strange  sort  of  note  in 
which  he  fairly  challenged  him,  as  it  were,  to  notice  it  in  the 
magazine.   This  proceeding' was  obviously  a  little  provoking ; 
but  Dr.  Rice,  we  are  sure,  only  read  the  courteous  billet  with 
one  of  his  good-natured  smiles,  feeling  some  pleasure  per- 
haps to  see  such  an  acknowledgment  of  the  power  of  his 
pen,  and,  possibly,  some  small  disposition  to  give  the  gen- 
tleman the  satisfaction  which  he  seemed  to  demand.    Averse, 
however,   as  he  certainly  was  to  any  thing  thatinight  even 
look  like  a  personal  controversy,  he  would,  no  doubt,  have 
left  the  Bishop  to  "  digest  the  venom  of  his  spleen"  at  his 
leisure,  if  he  had  not  thought  that  the  cause  of  truth  required 
him  to  answer  this  new  attack  upon  the  Bible,  with  proper 
spirit ;  and  he  did  so  accordingly,  in  a  full  and  fair  review 
of  the  discourse,  which  appeared  in  the  July  number  of  his 
work,  and  which  was  much  read,  and  warmly  approved.  * 

*  Here  again,  it  is  really  surprising,  that   Bishop  R did  not 

perceive  how  easy  he  had  made  it  for  any  one  to  answer  him  from 
his  own  words.  For  why  do  we  want  his  great  rule  of  interpreta- 
tion, which  is,  that  in  case  there  is  any  question  raised  about  the  true 
meaning  of  the  text  as  to  any  particular  doctrine,  "  That  interpre- 
tation of  Scripture  is  to  be  followed  and  relied  upon  as  the  true 
sense  and  meaning,  which  has  been  invariably  held  and  acted  upon 
by  the  one  Catholic  and  Apostolic  Church  of  Christ;"  or,  as  he  after- 
wards stjles  it,  the  "Primitive  Church  ?"     Why  he  says,  we  want  it 


280  MEMOIR     OP 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Theological  Seminary,  Aug.  Qth,  1825. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  presume  that  you  are  all  safe  and  settled  at  home,  and 
that  the  excitement  of  a  return  to  your  family  has  subsided. 

to  settle  disputes^  which  will  be  sure  to  rise  among  readers  of  the 
Bible.  But  is  not  this,  obviously,  as  much  as  to  say,  that  we  must 
have  an  infallible  interpreter  of  the  book  upon  earth  7  (the  very  error 
of  the  Papists  indeed.)  Yet  he  sa3's,  "  In  explanation  of  this  rule,  it 
is  to  be  borne  in  mind,  that  while  God  hath  fully  and  clearly  revealed 
his  will  to  us,  yet  he  hath  so  done  it  as  to  form  a  part  of  our  trial. 
While  all  things  necessary  to  salvation  are  set  forth  in  his  word  for 
our  learning.  Scripture  is  nevertheless  so  constructed,  that  the  un- 
learned and  unstable  can  wrest  it  to  therr  own  destruction ;  and  the 
word  of  the  gospel  is  either  a  savour  of  life  unto  life^  or  a  savour  of 
death  unto  death,  as  we  receive  and  apply  it."  And  he  adds,  "  If  this 
was  the  case  in  the  Apostolic  age,  as  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  both  de- 
clare that  it  was,  much  more  is  it  possible,  and  to  be  expected,  iii 
these  days  of  multiplied  divisions  and  latitudinarian  departure  from 
the  faith."  All  very  true ;  but  is  it  not  perfectly  plain  then,  that  if 
his  rule  could  settle  these  disputes,  as  he  pretends,  it  would,  hy  his  own 
showing,  disappoint  the  design  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  "so"  framing 
the  Scriptures  "  as  to  form  a  part  of  our  trial,'''  in  this  ©ur  mortal 
state  ?  And  ought  he  not  to  have  been  sure,,  therefore,  that  the 
rule  itself  must  be  vain  ?  (just  as  sure  as  we  may  be  that  a  medicine 
made  to  prevent  xleath  must  be  quack.)  And  why  could  he  not  be 
satisfied  to  bear  his  part  of  the  trial,  and  wait  patiently  till  the  day 
of  judgment,  when  the  only  infallible  Interpreter  would  interpret  his 
own  word,  and  decide  all  disputes  about  its  true  meaning  forever? 

Moreover,  when  he  acknowledges  that  diversities  of  interpretation 
prevailed  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles  themselves,  is  it  not  wonderful 
that  he  was  not  struck  with  the  decisive  fact  that  neither  Peter  nor 
Paul  ever  proposed  to  cure  the  evil  by  summoning  the  disputants  to 
come  to  them  for  the  true  interpretation  of  their  own  writings?  For 
why  did  they  not  ?  Evidently  because  it  was  plain  that  if  men  of 
"  perverse  minds"  would  "  wrest"  what  they  had  written,  they  would 
be  equally  apt  (and  even  more  so)to  wrest  what  they  would  say  in  fur- 
ther  explanation  of  it.    The  fault  was  not  in  the  scriptures,  but  in  the 


DOCTOR     RICE.  281 

As  ill  news  flies  apace,  I  should  surely  have  heard  if  any 
disaster  had  befallen  you.  I  will  take  it  for  granted  then, 
that  through  your  whole  journey  you  had  rich  experience  of 
the  care  and  kindness  of  our  heavenly  Father.  And  I  do 
hope,  that  the  safety  and  facility  with  whicli  you  find  that 
you  can  visit  us,  will  induce  you  before  very  long  to  repeat 
your  excursion.  I  do  believe,  that  if  you  could  make  such 
an  one  every  year,  it  would  prolong  your  life,  and  extend 
your  usefulness.  It  might  be  the  means  of  bringing  your 
children  acquainted  with  the  children  of  those  who  will 
never  cease  to  love  you  with  a  fervour  and  perpetuity  of 
afiection,  which  is  rarely  to  be  found,  except  among  old  Vir- 
ginia Presbyterians.  I  greatly  approve  of  every  thing  which 
extends  and  strengthens  kindly  feeUngs.  And  I  love  to  see 
friendships  growing  up  among  the  children  of  those  who  have 
been  fast  friends.  Come  then,  often  among  us;  and  let  us 
enjoy  the  pleasure  of  showing,  or  rather  trying  to  show  how 
much  we  love  you,     I  do  wish  that  you  could  stay  some 

hearts  of  their  readers,  and  these  the  Apostles  could  not  change.  But 
the  power  and  authority  of  the  "  Catholic"  or  "  Primitive  Church"  can- 
not be  greater  than  that  of  the  Apostles  who  founded  it.  Indeed  I  may 
state  the  argument  still  more  strongly,  and  say  that  the  power  and 
authority  of  the  Primitive  Church  cannot  be  greater  than  that  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  who  inspired  the  Apostles  to  indite  the  scriptures;  and  if, 
as  Bishop  R.  concedes,  and  indeed  contends,  all  the  various  forms  of 
expression  in  which  the  Divine  Inspirer  has  chosen  to  communicate 
the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  cannot  so  fix  and  ascertain  the  meaning  of 
his  word,  as  to  exclude  the  misconceptions  of  men  of  carnal  minds, 
who  may  "  wrest  the  scriptures  to  their  own  destruction,"  is  it  not  mani- 
fest  that  no  additional  statements  of  any  mere  men  whatever,  call  them 
fathers,  confessors,  martyrs,  or  what  you  will,  can  help  the  case  ?  Is 
it  not  clear,  indeed,  that  they  can  only  embroil  the  strife  by  undertak- 
ing  to  compose  it,  and  increase  and  multiply  the  grounds  of  contro- 
versy, and  points  of  dispute,  by  furnishing  new  materials  for  difference 
of  opinion,  and  absolutely  interminable  debate?  Surely  "  the  Bible, 
and  the  Bible  alone,  ought  to  be,  as  it  is,  the  religion  of  Protestants,"— 
and  of  all  who  call  themselves  christians  in  our  land. 

25* 


282  MEMOIR     OF 

weeks  here,  and  visit  your  old  friends  from  house  to  house. 
I  think  that  it  would  do  good  both  to  them  and  to  you.  The 
stimulus  which  good,  hearty,  old-fashioned  Virginia  friend- 
ship would  give,  would  be  a  better  tonic  and  cordial  than 
wine  could  furnish. 

We  are  at  length  in  occupancy  of  a  part  of  our  new  build- 
ing. We  find  it  a  very  pleasant  comfortable  house,  thus  far, 
and  I  think  when  all  things  are  fixed  about  us,  that  it  will 
make  a  very  desirable  residence.  It  appears  to  me,  too,  that 
there  has  been  a  good  stirring  up  of  the  people  in  behalf  of 
our  Seininary;  and  that  they  are  more  than  ever  resolved  to 
build  it  up,  and  place  it  on  a  respectable  foundation.  Mr. 
Roy  is  engaged  as  our  agent,  and  I  hope  that  he  will  be  efii- 
cient.  He  has  not  had  a  fair  trial  yet,  but  I  think  he  has  the 
talent  for  that  work. 

I  have  spent  all  the  time  I  could  possibly  spare,  from  home 
since  I  saw  you.  I  have  made  a  number  of  excursions  into 
different  parts  of  the  adjacent  country,  and  have  been  out  a 
week  with  Mr.  Roy  as  agent.  Owing  to  this,  I  have  it  not 
yet  in  my  power  to  give  you  any  remarks  on  your  book.  I 
have  just  run  over  it  in  a  very  hasty  manner,  so  as  to  have 
a  general  view  of  the  arrangement.  With  this  I  am  greatly 
pleased.  Your  management  of  Hume's  sophistry  also  grati- 
fied me  highly.  On  this  part  of  the  subject,  only  one  thing 
occurred  to  my  mind,  as  a  subject  worthy  of  your  consider- 
ation. You  know  Brown  (see  Cause  and  Effect)  denies 
that  a  miracle  is  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  nature  ;  but  says, 
if  it  is,  that  Hume's  objection  is  unanswerable.  Brown's 
works  have  considerable  influence  in  some  parts.  And  it 
has  occurred  to  me,  that  it  would  be  worth  while,  in  another 
edition,  to  take  some  little  pains  to  settle  the  true  idea  of  a 
miracle. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  me  in  much  love  to  Mrs.  A.  and  the  child- 
ren. If  you  will  come  next  summer,  we  can  give  you 
much  better  quarters  than  you  had  before.  And  I  hope  that 
you  and  Mrs.  A.  know  that  we  think  it  a  high  privilege  to 


DOCTOR      RICE.  283 

minister  to  your  comfort  all  that  is  in  our  power,     I  am  as 
ever, 

Yours  most  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 
Present  us  kindly  to  Dr.  Miller  and  Mr.  Hodge. 

TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

Theological  Seminary,  Aug,  6th,  1825. 
My  Dear  Brother, 

Since  I  wrote  last,  we  have  obtained  the  occupancy  of  a 
part  of  our  building;  and  feel  ourselves  now  at  home  in  the 
Seminary.  It  is  a  plain,  comfortable  house.  May  God 
make  it  his  habitation,  and  imbue  all  here,  and  all  who  will 
be  here,  largely  with  his  spirit. 

I  have  better  hopes  now  than  when  I  wrote  last.  The 
Directors  of  our  Institution  wanted  me  to  go  on  again  to  the 
North,  and  solicit  aid.  But  I  said  that  I  could  not  go  again, 
unless  I  could  say  and  show  that  our  own  people  had  taken 
hold  of  the  thing  in  good  earnest.  If  they  would  adopt  a 
plan  for  putting  the  Institution  into  full  organization,  send 
out  agents,  and  make  full  trial  of  the  Southern  people,  then 
I  would  go  to  the  North,  and  ask  the  brethren  there  to  help 
us.  Accordingly  a  promising  agent  has  set  out,  and  made  a 
very  good  beginning.  I  went  with  him  two  days,  and  ob- 
tained about  four  thousand  dollars.  This  however  was 
among  my  particular  friends,  and  in  the  best  part  of  our 
state.  How  the  whole  plan  will  succeed  I  do  not  know. 
Pray  for  us. 

Mrs.  Rice  intended  this  day  to  have  written  to  our  beloved 
Mrs.  Woods,  but  on  learning  that  I  was  writing  to  you  she 
declined.  She  has  lately  had  a  terrible  inflammation  in  her 
eyes,  which  has  left  them  too  weak  to  be  used  much.  She 
hopes  that  this  will  be  a  sufficient  reason  for  not  writing. 
Our  hearts  continually  go  to  Andover  with  a  fervour  of  love 
which  I  know  not  how  to  express.  My  brother,  shall  we 
not  meet  again,  and  enjoy  such  communion  as  we  have  en- 


284  MEMOIR      OF 

joyed  in  times  past?  God  grant  us  this  privilege.  But  if 
not  on  earth — Oh !  may  we  meet  in  the  mansion  which 
Jesus  has  provided  for  his  friends  !  We  are,  with  best  love 
to  all  in  your  house,  and  the  brethren  about  you,  truly  yours. 
So  testifies  your  brother, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Theological  Seminary,  Sept.  I,  1825. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  enclose  to  you  a  letter  which  I  have  written  to  Mr.  Lit- 
tle, and  which  I  will  thank  you  to  hand  to  him.  I  have 
there  expressed  my  views  and  feelings  in  relation  to  this 
scholarship.  I  can  see  the  finger  of  Providence  in  this 
thing,  as  distinctly  as  in  any  event  ever  brought  under  my 
observation.  I  doubt  much  whether  any  donation  near  the 
same  amount  has  done  the  same  good  in  as  short  a  time.  It 
came  exactly  in  the  right  moment  to  second  some  very  im- 
portant efforts  to  which  I  was  urging  the  friends  of  the  Se- 
minary. And  it  was  blessed  to  the  excitement  of  a  feeling, 
in  the  friends  of  religion  among  us,  in  favour  of  the  Semi- 
nary, beyond  any  thing  that  1  have  seen.  The  truth  is, 
while  all  acknowledged  the  necessity  of  our  institution  to 
supply  the  wants  of  the  Southern  country,  most  thought  that 
it  was  an  impracticable  scheme.  So  few,  they  said,  here, 
cared  for  these  things,  that  it  is  hopeless  to  undertake  by 
them  to  raise  so  great  a  structure  as  a  Theological  Seminary; 
and  it  is  in  vain  to  expect  that  the  Northern  people  will  do 
this  work,  while  engaged  in  so  many  others.  And  really  I 
began  to  fear  that  I  should  have  to  labour  at  \he  foundation 
all  my  life.  But  now  I  have  good  hope  that  this  temple  of 
the  Lord  will  go  up  in  my  day.  At  my  instance  an  agent 
was  sent  out,  about  four  weeks  ago,  who  has  succeeded  in 
obtaining  for  the  general  purposes  of  the  institution,  about 
two  thousand  dollars  a  week  in  the  country.  He  is  going 
on  the  plan  of  finding  first  in  the  South,  and  then  elsewhere, 


DOCTOR     RICE.  285 

fifty  men  who  will  bind  themselves  each  to  pay  one  hundred 
dollars  a  year,  for  five  years.  He  is  also  to  find  one  hun- 
dred men  who  will  agree,  each,  to  pay  fifty  dollars  a  year 
for  the  same  period.  This  will  endow  two  professorships. 
Besides  this,  he  carries  a  third  paper  on  which  he  receives 
subscriptions  and  donations  for  any  sum  from  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  down  to  twenty-five  cents.  On  this  plan 
our  agent  has  already  obtained  about  eight  thousand  dollars. 
All  this  too  was  procured  in  one  congregation ;  the  one  to 
which  I  was  Pastor,  the  first  year  of  my  ministerial  life,  and 
before  the  Providence  of  God  called  me  to  Richmond.  He 
is  going  through  the  whole  Presbytery  in  this  way,  and 
although  I  do  by  no  means  expect  that  he  will  have  equal 
success  where  I  have  never  laboured,  yet  this  example  will 
exert  a  considerable  influence.  So  that  I  hope  our  Presby- 
tery will  raise  enough  to  establish  one  professorship.  I  have 
the  pleasure  to  add  that  I  have  just  returned  from  a  trip  to 
North  Carolina,  the  object  of  which  was  to  convince  the 
brethren  of  that  state  of  the  importance  and  necessity  of 
building  up  a  Southern  Institution.  In  this  it  pleased  the 
Lord  to  make  me  successful  beyond  my  expectations.  So 
that  1  have  good  hopes  of  seeing  the  Presbyterians  of  that 
state  taking  hold  of  this  great  object,  in  company  with  us.  I 
bless  the  Lord,  and  take  courage.  And  now  if  I  can  just 
engage  the  brethren  to  the  North  to  take  hold  of  this  thing 
with  a  strong  hand,  and  help  us,  the  work  will  go  on  pros- 
perously. 

I  am  sensible,  my  dear  brother,  that  in  the  case  of  this 
scholarship,  the  Seminary  is  greatly  indebted  to  your  instru- 
mentality under  God,  for  this  blessing.  I  have  therefore 
given  a  sketch  of  the  providential  benefits  that  have  already 
grown  out  of  it,  for  your  gratification  as  well  as  Mr.  Little's. 
Is  it  not  an  honour  and  pleasure  of  the  highest  character,  to 
be  God's  instrument  in  doing  good?  Go  on,  brother,  and 
the  Lord  bless  you  in  all  things  ! 

I  am  ashamed  to  have  to  apologize  again  about  the  Tract. 


286  MEMOIR     OF 

But  really  if  you  could  see  how  I  have  been  pressed  in  every 
way,  you  would  not  think  it  strange,  nor  hard.  A  Tract  on 
that  subject  must  be  written  with  great  ability.  I  cannot  do 
justice  to  it.  But  as  I  have  promised,  I  want  to  do  my  very 
best.  So  bear  with  me  a  little  longer.  And  pray  for  me ; — 
and  cherish  towards  me  that  fraternal  affection  with  which  I 
dehght  to  subscribe  myself. 

Truly  your  friend  and  brother, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  JONATHAN  LITTLE,  ESQ. 

Theological  Seminary,  Sept.  1,  1825. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  just  received  from  my  friend  Mr.  Baldwin,  your 
order  on  Jonathan  Litde  &l  Co.  for  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  to  endow  a  Scholarship,  (to  be  called  Little's 
Scholarship)  in  our  Seminary.  This  paper  will  be  laid  be- 
fore our  Board  at  their  next  meeting,  and  then  of  course  you 
will  hear  from  that  body. 

In  the  mean  time,  however,  I  must  be  permitted  to  ex- 
press my  sense  of  your  christian  liberality  towards  this  in- 
fant institution.  Surely,  my  dear  sir,  it  was  God  who  put 
it  into  your  heart  to  remember  us  in  this  way,  and  at  this 
very  time,  and  to  him  we  will  give  the  glory.  But  while 
in  all  things,  we  acknowledge  him  as  the  autlior  of  good,  yet 
it  is  right  that  we  should  express  our  feelings  of  grateful 
affection  to  those  whom  he  honours  as  instruments  of  his 
goodness.  And,  as  it  was  in  this  thing  your  object  to  do 
good,  it  is  entirely  proper  to  inform  you,  that  already  your 
benevolent  wishes  have  been  accomplished.  My  friend  Mr. 
Taylor  gave  me  an  intimation  of  this  matter  at  a  time  when 
the  difficulties  of  establishing  this  Seminary  seemed  to  be 
increasing,  and  many  of  its  warmest  friends  were  despond- 
ing. I  began  to  feel  as  though  I  were  alone  in  this  great 
work.  But  when  it  was  found  that  the  Lord  had  put  it  in 
the  heart  of  a  brother  in  a  remote  place  to  found  a  Scholarship 


DOCTOR     -RICE.  287 

in  the  Seminary,  it  gave  an  impulse  which  has  been  generally 
felt.  Our  languid  friends  here  were  roused,  and  more  has 
actually  been  done  in  six  weeks,  than  in  the  previous  twelve 
months.  Besides,  through  your  liberality,  and  the  zeal  of 
my  excellent  friend  Taylor,  I  have  been  enabled  to  encou- 
rage two  young  men  to  enter  the  Seminary,  who  although 
they  had  some  little  means  of  their  own,  were  utterly  at  a 
loss  how  to  make  out  a  sufficiency.  Still  farther;  this Jirst 
scholarship  is  likely,  I  think,  to  lead  to  the  establishment  of 
others.  Such  is  the  power  of  example.  So  that  on  the 
whole  I  can  confidently  say,  that  J  have  never  known  the 
giving  of  the  same  sum,  in  any  instance,  productive  of  so 
much  good  in  so  short  a  time.  I  thought  that  you  ought 
to  know  this.  It  is  a  part  of  your  reward.  But  a  still 
higher  gratification  awaits  you.  In  that  blessed  world,  to 
which,  through  divine  grace,  I  trust  you  are  going,  you  will 
see  in  succeeding  times,  a  number  of  faithful  labourers,  edu- 
cated on  this  foundation,  welcomed  into  the  joy  of  their  Lord ; 
and  many  souls,  saved  through  their  instrumentality,  return- 
ing to  the  mount  Zion  above.  You  will  witness  the  honour 
thus  given  to  our  adorable  Saviour,  and  endless  happiness 
conferred  on  many  human  beings.  And  this  will  be 
enough ! 

That  God  may  prosper  you  in  all  things;  that  your  soul 
may  be  in  health ;  that  you  may  be  an  honoured  instrument 
in  giving  still  wider  extension  to  the  blessings  of  the  Re- 
deemer's kingdom ;  and  that  at  last  you  may  be  acknow- 
ledged and  rewarded  as  a  faithful  steward  of  God,  and  a 
good  servant,  is  the  prayer  of, 
Dear  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

And  fellow-servant  of  our  Lord, 

John  H.  Rice. 


288  MEMOIR     OF 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Tlieological  Seminary,  Oct.  \%th,  1825. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Our  Presbytery  met  yesterday  week;  and  although  we 
anticipated  a  stormy  time,  we  were  happily  disappointed. 
1  do  not  know  that  we  ever  conducted  things  in  a  better 
spirit.  All  broke  up  in  harmony  and  peace;  and,  for  ray 
part,  I  have  better  hopes  than  I  have  felt  myself  at  liberty  to 
entertain  for  several  years.  Indeed,  I  hope  that  the  cloud 
is  breaking,  and  that  what  we  feared  would  be  a  storm  of 
wrath,  will  be  a  shower  of  mercy.  As  for  the  other  two 
Presbyteries,  I  know  very  little  of  the  state  of  things 
among  them.  But  I  think  that  there  is  a  redeeming  energy 
in  the  principles  which  we  hold  as  a  church,  which,  under 
the  divine  blessing,  will  bring  all  things  soon  into  better 
order. 

Mr.  Roy  still  goes  on  successfully.  His  subscriptions  in 
Prince  Edward  and  Charlotte,  amount  to  about  fourteen 
thousand  dollars.  We  have  retained  him  for  a  year,  and  I 
hope  in  that  time  he  will  establish  two  Professorships,  and 
get  money  for  a  considerable  contingent  fund  beside.  We 
have  now  organized  an  Education  Society,  and  I  hope  that 
it  will  be  more  efficient  than  it  has  been. 

My  absence  from  home  was  occasioned  by  an  appoint- 
ment given  by  our  Presbytery.  I  visited  the  venerable 
Synod  of  North  Carolina,  for  the  purpose  of  awakening  an 
interest  to  the  South,  in  our  Seminary.  Herein  I  was 
made  completely  successful.  The  Synod  did  what  I  wished 
in  every  respect;  that  is,  adopted  resolutions  which  I  pro- 
posed, appending  to  them  the  declaration  that  they  were  by 
no  means  to  interfere  with  the  engagements  of  that  body  to 
the  Seminary  at  Princeton. 

Your  visit  to  us  last  summer,  constitutes  an  epoch  in 
the  "Annals  of  our  Parish."  Things  are  commonly 
spoken  of  as  having  happened  just  before,  or  just  after,  or 


DOCTOR     RICE.  289 

while  Dr.  Alexander  was  here.  I  do  hope  that  Providence 
will  permit  you  to  come  among  us  again.  And  if  I  could 
have  my  wish,  you  would  render  your  last  services  to  the 
church  here,  and  lay  your  bones  to  rest  in  the  land  of  your 
nativity.  We  shall  bid  Jameb  a  most  hearty  welcome 
should  he  come  to  this  state;  and  if  he  likes  to  labour 
can  give  him  work  enough. 

There  is  an  opening  at  Milton  on  Dan  river,  just  on  the 
Carolina  and  Virginia  line,  for  a  young  man  of  talents  and 
prudence,  which  claims  attention.  It  is  wished  that  such 
an  one  should  superintend  a  female  academy,  hear  two  reci- 
tations a  day,  and  preach  in  Milton,  (a  growing  village  of 
about  three  hundred  or  four  hundred  inhabitants,)  for  which 
they  will  give  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  or  eight  hundred 
dollars.  Do  you  know  any  one  to  suit  that  place?  I  also 
want  a  man  to  live  in  a  private  family  in  Albemarle,  and 
teach  three  small  children  about  five  hours  a  day,  for  two 
hundred  dollars.  If  you  know  of  one  to  fill  either  of  these 
places,  please  to  inform  me  by  return  of  the  mail. 

We  unite  in  best  love  to  Mrs.  A.  and  the  children. 
Most  truly  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 
Theological  Seininary,  January  7th,  1826. 
My  Dear  Christian  Brother, 

I  received  your  welcome  letter  by  last  mail,  and  hasten  to 
let  you  hear  from  me. 

I  thank  you,  and  much  more  I  hope,  do  I  thank  God  for 
the  zealous  interest  you  take  in  our  Seminary.  May  the 
liOrd  prosper  all  your  attempts  to  do  good  in  this  way  ! 

I  have  learned  that  through  this  Southern  country  there 
are  some  fifteen  or  twenty  young  men,  who  have  made  up 
their  minds  to  study  divinity,  and  are  now  engaged  in  teach- 
ing little  schools  to  enable  them  to  buy  victuals  and  clothes ; 
while  they  are  reading  with  private  clergymen,  who  have 

26 


390  MEMOIR     OF 

perhaps  in  all  no  more  books  in  their  library  than  a  strong 
man  could  carry  on  his  shoulder.  Such  preachers  are  bet- 
ter than  none,  but  they  are  very  poorly  prepared  for  their 
office,  especially  in  this  age  when  every  form  of  error  is 
afloat.  But  the  principal  objection  to  theological  education 
in  these  insulated  situations  is,  that  the  young  men  know 
nothing  of  the  spirit  of  the  times ;  but  go  forth  as  cold  and 
dead  in  relation  to  all  works  of  christian  benevolence,  as 
though  they  had  lived  a  hundred  years  ago.  Now  we  want 
men  all  on  fire,  and  at  the  same  time  so  acquainted  with  the 
state  of  the  world,  that  they  will  be  ready  to  take  hold,  at 
the  right  place,  of  any  work  of  christian  love  that  Providence 
may  set  before  them.  I  think  that  it  would  be  a  good  deed 
to  get  the  most  promising  of  these  young  men  out  of  their 
dark  corners,  and  bring  them  into  the  church  through  the  Se- 
minary. It  would  add  very  greatly  to  their  usefulness.  They 
would  be  much  better  prepared  for  co-operation  with  their 
brethren.  If  you  approve  of  it,  I  will  ascertain  whether 
some  might  not  be  found  among  them,  worthy  of  the  bene- 
volence of  the  New  York  Society. 

I  am  very  greatly  pleased  with  the  plan  of  your  Educa- 
tion Society.  I  regard  it  just  as  you  do  ;  and  pray  for  God's 
blessing  on  it.  I  do  hope  that  your  anticipation  respecting 
their  regard  for  us  will  be  realized.  I  wish  that  Princeton, 
Andover,  and  Auburn  may  always  find  friends  and  supporters. 
But  1  am  well  persuaded,  from  actual  observation,  that  the 
most  urgent  wants  are  here,  all  around  us.  This  place  is 
like  a  well  surrounded  by  half  a  dozen  palm  trees,  in  the 
great  desert  of  Africa. 

I  do  hope  that  your  new  Secretary  will  serve  you  as  well 
as  my  friend  Bruen.  Mr.  Philips  will  have  hard  service 
with  the  church  to  which  he  is  called.  The  Lord  be  Avith 
him !  I  am  truly  sorry  to  hear  that  you  have  lo»t  friend 
Hubbard  from  your  society.  I  loved  him  as  a  brother  in 
Christ. 

What  you  tell  me  of  Mr.  Bruen's  being  invited  to  go  to 


DOCTOR     RICE.  291 

Boston,  interests  me  deeply.  I  do  delight  greatly  in  wit- 
nessing the  union  and  co-operation  of  christians  in  building 
up  the  kingdom  of  our  common  Lord.  And  a  measure 
which  will  infuse  new  vigour  into  Domestic  Missions  will 
deserve  to  be  celebrated  on  earth  and  in  heaven. 

But  this  is  a  work  of  extreme  delicacy  and  difficulty.  A 
National  Society  ought,  by  the  terms,  to  embrace  all  evan- 
gelical denominations.  This,  however,  I  apprehend,  cannot 
be  effected  with  any  prospect  of  success.  Three  difficulties 
are  in  the  way.  1.  Difference  in  point  of  doctrine.  2.  Dif- 
ference in  regard  to  church  government.  3.  Difference  as  to 
preparation  for  the  ministry. 

As  to  the  first — steady,  consistent  Calvinists  cannot  agree 
to  send  out  Arminian  preachers,  and  build  up  Arminian  so- 
cieties ;  and  Arminians  will  feel  in  the  same  way  with  regard 
to  Calvinists.  2.  Episcopalians  will  not  aid  in  sending  out 
Dissenters^  as  they  persist  in  calling  them,  and  the  advocates 
of  clerical  parity  will  not  aid  in  building  up  Episcopal 
churches  ;  and  so  of  other  denominations.  3.  Of  the  two 
thousand  Baptist,  and  twelve  hundred  Methodist  preachers, 
in  the  United  States,  not  one  hundred  are  educated  men. 
One  half  of  them  can  barely  read  the  English  Testament. 
Many  are  rank  Antinomians ;  many  are  mere  fanatics,  who 
expect  to  produce  effect  by  noise  alone.  How  can  any  well 
ordered  society  accept  of  Missionaries  such  as  these  ?  But 
if  they  are  rejected,  the  denomination  to  which  they  belong 
will  be  greatly  offended.  It  strikes  me,  on  the  whole,  that 
the  best  plan  will  be  to  have  a  society  made  up  of  such  as 
agree  in  fundamental  doctrines,  and  in  the  great  principles  of 
Church  government.  Thus  all  the  orthodox  Congregation- 
alists,  the  General  Assembly  Presbyterians,  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed, and  the  Associate  Reformed,  might  form  a  society 
which  should  have  the  nation  for  its  sphere,  and  the  propa- 
gation of  Christianity  throughout  the  nation  for  its  object. 
But  I  doubt  much  whether  we  could  safely  go  farther.     If 


292  MEMOIR     OF 

you  can  send  me  any  thing  that  will  throw  light  on  the  sub- 
ject, pray  do  so. 

I  hope  you  will  forgive  my  negligence  about  the  French 
Review.  I  place  great  value  on  it ;  and  find  it  very  useful  in 
assisting  me  to  form  a  general  idea  of  the  situation  and  pro- 
gress of  the  world.  1  have  received  ten  numbers  of  it ;  and 
beg  you  to  continue  your  kindness  in  procuring  it  for  me. 
At  first  it  was  taken  by  a  literary  society  at  our  college ;  but 
the  society  is  unable  to  pay  for  it ;  and  I  have  taken  it  off 
their  hands.     Please  to  let  me  know  the  cost. 

I  have  not  yet  done  ;  but  must  quit,  or  tax  you  with  an- 
other sheet. 

In  much  fraternal  love  to  you  and  all  my  friends  in  the 
city,  I  am  most  truly  yours. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Theological  Seminary,  ^pril2d,  1826. 
My  Dear  Brother  Taylor, 

The  simple  reason  why  I  have  not  written  to  you  is  that 
I  had  not  time.  It  has  been  necessary  for  me  to  leave  home 
a  good  deal  lately,  and  while  at  home  1  have  had  more  to 
do  every  hour,  yea  and  every  minute,  than  I  could  do.  Our 
seminary  is  small ;  but  there  are  as  many  classes  as  at  Prince- 
ton or  Andover.  Mr.  Marsh  does  nothing  but  teach  He- 
brew ;  so  that  I  have  more  than  the  work  of  two  Professors 
to  perform  every  day.  Besides  all  this,  every  individual  in 
the  seminary,  and  all  in  my  family,  except  Mrs.  Rice,  have 
had  the  influenza.     You  will  then  excuse  me. 

I  Avish  you  to  have  as  full  information  as  possible  of  our 
Institution.     I  therefore  mention  to  you  that, 

The  first  class  which  entered  consisted  of  three.  Of  these 
one  is  licensed,  and  is  a  very  popular  preacher ;  now  labour- 
ing in  a  very  desolate  region,  with  good  hope  of  building  up 
a  church.  The  other  two  will  not  be  licensed  for  several 
months. 


DOCTOR      RICE. 


293 


The  second  class  consists  of  two;  of  whom  one  was 
obliged  to  leave  last  fall  to  take  a  school.  The  other  is  a 
fine  young  man,  who  bids  fair  to  make  a  very  active  labourer 
in  the  vineyard. 

The  third  and  last  class  that  entered  consists  of  eight,  be- 
sides one  irregular  student  who  has  joined  it  for  a  time. 

There  is  a  very  fine  spirit  among  our  young  men.  And 
I  think  they  visibly  grow  in  zeal,  and  in  christian  benevo- 
lence. They  take  considerable  interest  in  the  religious  in- 
struction of  the  blacks ;  and  I  do  think  are  doing  good  in 
that  way. 

I  have  just  received  a  young  man  from  North  Carolina, 
who  has  come  on  in  expectation  of  getting  assistance  to  pro- 
secute his  studies.  I  like  him  very  much  as  far  as  I  have 
seen  him;  but  his  means  are  so  limited,  that  he  will  need 
a  hundred  dollars  a  year  for  three  years.  Can  you  raise 
from  friends  to  that  amount  ?  Or  must  T  look  in  part  to  some 
other  source? 

It  is  necessary  that  you  should  understand  the  state  of 
things  at  the  South.  It  is  the  universal  custom  to  engage 
teachers  with  us  by  the  year,  and  not  by  the  quarter— so 
that  all  the  young  men  who  engaged  last  fall  must  continue 
until  the  next.  That  is  the  earliest  time  at  which  any  of 
them  can  be  brought  into  the  Seminary.  And  it  will  be  ne- 
cessary for  me  to  make  arrangements  during  the  summer  to 
bring  them  forward;  otherwise,  when  next  fall  shall  arrive 
they  will  probably  be  obliged  to  engage  for  another  year.  I 
have  put  things  in  train,  and  during  the  summer  will  be  able 
to  ascertain  how  many  may  be  drawn  from  their  hiding 
places,  and  be  brought  into  our  Institution.  And  I  shall 
wish  very  much  to  know  how  many  I  may  venture  to  receive. 
I  rejoice  to  see  the  movements  in  relation  to  the  Domestic 
Missionary  Society.  If  possible,  I  will  be  at  New  York  when 
that  great  matter  is  taken  up.  I  shall  delight  to  have  a  hand, 
even  if  it  lifts  only  a  feather,  in  building  up  a  sort  of  National 
Domestic  Missionary  Society. 


26^ 


294  MEMOIR      OF 

I  write  in  extreme  haste.  I  want  you  to  say  a  word  to 
Mr.  Philips  about  the  Education  Society.  As  soon  as  I  re- 
ceived his  letter  I  wrote  to  the  West  for  some  young  men 
there,  who  I  knew  needed  help.  But  I  have  yet  received 
no  answer.  This  has  kept  me  from  writing  hitherto.  But 
why  must  young  men  supported  by  the  Missionary  Society, 
intend  to  ride  as  missionaries  in  the  west  ?  There  is  not  a 
corner  of  Indiana,  or  Illinois,  which  needs  missionary  labour 
more  than  it  is  needed  for  scores,  and  hundreds  of  miles,  all 
around  us. 

Give  my  love  to  all  my  New  York  friends  as  you  see 
them.     And  continue  your  interest  for  our  seminary. 
Affectionately  your  brother  in  Christ. 

J.  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOAVLES  TAYLOR. 

Theological  Seminary^  June  24th,  1826.      , 
My  Dear  Christian  Brother, 

I  received  your  letter  by  the  last  mail,  and  seize  the  first 
opportunity  to  answer  it. 

I  had  never  set  my  heart  so  much  on  any  jaunt  as  on  the 
one  I  had  planned  to  your  city  this  spring.  Above  every 
thing  I  wished  to  be  at  the  formation  of  the  Home  Mission- 
ary Society.  But  the  interests  of  our  Seminary  made  it 
necessary  for  me  to  go,  about  the  first  of  April,  into  North 
Carolina.  There  we  had  for  a  few  days  a  return  of  wintry 
weather.  The  cold  was  really  severe,  and  brought  on  a  re- 
turn of  influenza,  which  kept  me  confined  until  I  barely  had 
time  to  get  to  the  General  Assembly.  There  the  oppres- 
sively hot  weather,  and  the  city  water,  induced  an  affection 
of  the  bowels  which  harrassed  me  exceedingly,  and  render- 
ed me  unfit  for  travelling.  I  did  not,  however,  relinquish 
my  purpose  of  going  to  New  York  until  the  time  for  absence 
had  elapsed,  and  I  was  obliged  to  return  to  my  post  in  the 
Institution.  But  if  Providence  spares  me  another  year,  I 
shall  hope  to  be  at  the  anniversaries  in  your  city. 


DOCTOR      RICE.  295 

I  suppose  you  have  seen  by  this  time,  the  connection 
formed  with  the  General  Assembly.  Our  reasons  for  seek- 
ing this  measure,  and  in  the  particular  form  in  which  you 
find  it,  were  the  followijig : 

1.  We  wish  to  bind  together  in  the  bonds  of  love  all  parts 
of  the  Presbyterian  church;  and  while  we  do  not  think  that 
the  General  Assembly  can  undertake  the  active  management 
of  a  distant  seminary,  we  tliink  that  the  highest  Judica- 
tory of  the  church,  ought  to  exercise  a  paternal  superintend- 
ance  over  all  such  institutions.  Besides,  a  Theological 
Seminary  is  a  common  interest.  The  whole  church  ought 
to  help  to  build  it  up,  and  to  keep  it  sound  and  healthful. 
We  therefore  were  entirely  willing  to  give  the  Assembly  such 
power  over  this  School  of  the  Prophets  as  that  body  can 
beneficially  exercise. 

2.  As  our  Institution  grows  we  find  that  it  will  not  do  to 
have  it  connected  with  one  of  a  literary  character.  They  in- 
terfere. Jealousies  are  excited.  The  Trustees  of  the  Col- 
lege require  more  power  over  us  than  we  think  it  safe  to  give. 
Therefore  we  have  withdrawn  entirely  from  the  College. 
But  the  legislature  of  Virginia  can  in  no  way  be  induced  to 
grant  a  charter  to  a  Theological  School.  We  thought  it  best 
then  to  form  such  a  connection  with  the  General  Assembly 
as  would  enable  us  to  cover  our  money  with  their  charter ; 
and  thus  keep  us  independent  of  any  mere  worldly  body  of 
men. 

I  am  exceedingly  pleased  Vv'ith  the  complete  success  of  all 
ray  plans  in  this  respect;  and  with  the  entire,  unanimous 
approbation  of  them  by  the  General  Assembly. 

But  we  have  enemies  to  encounter,  and  opposition  to  put 
down  in  the  South.  Infidels  and  Sectarians  are  very  jealous 
of  us,  and  watchful  against  us.  But  I  do  hope  the  Lord  is 
on  our  side,  and  that  the  church  is  praying  for  us.  I  am 
more  than  ever  convinced  of  the  importance  and  necessity 
of  our  institution.  The  South  needs  it  gready,  and  it  must 
be  built  up.    For  there  is  no  part  of  the  world,  where  men  of 


296  MEMOIR      OF 

high  talents  and  great  acquirements,  of  polished  taste  and  fer- 
vent zeal,  are  so  much  needed  as  in  this  great  country  that 
stretches  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Mississippi.  And  our 
Seminary  is  the  only  one  South  of  Princeton,  between  the 
Atlantic  and  the  Pacific,  which  purposes  to  take  young  men 
after  they  have  gone  through  college,  and  give  them  a 
thorough  training.  We  therefore  feel  that  we  have  the  claim 
which  brotherhood  gives  us,  on  all  who  love  the  Presbyte- 
rian church,  and  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer  in  this  land  of 
desolation." 

In  the  mean  time,  Bishop  Ravenscroft  had  published  a 
pamphlet  entitled,  "The  Doctrines  of  the  Church  Vindi- 
cated from  the  Misrepresentations  of  Dr.  John  Rice,  and 
the  Integrity  of  Revealed  Religion  Defended  against  the 
'  No  Comment'  Principle  of  Promiscuous  Bible  Societies," 
being  a  long  and  elaborate  answer  to  the  several  reviews  of 
his  sermons  which  we  have  mentioned,  and  containing,  of 
course,  a  reassertion  of  his  own  views  upon  the  subjects 
involved  in  them,  with  some  additions,  and  replies  to  the 
reviewer's  remarks;  which  naturally  claimed  our  Pro- 
fessor's attention.  In  this  work,  indeed,  the  Bishop  had 
evidently  collected  all  his  power  for  the  purpose  of  demo- 
lishing the  provoking  Presbyterian  who  so  obstinately 
opposed  his  "  doctrines,"  and  had  displayed,  accordingly, 
no  small  share  of  that  species  of  ability  which  he  pos- 
sessed. Unfortunately,  however,  impelled  by  his  sanguine 
temper,  he  had  indulged  himself  in  a  virulence  of  language 
which,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  was  not  exactly  becoming  in 
one  who  claimed  to  be  a  regular  descendant  of  the  Apos- 
tles, and  was  certainly  not  well  calculated  to  "  grace  his 
cause,"  in  the  eyes  of  any  reflecting  readers.* 

*  It  would  seem  from  some  expressions  of  Bishop  R.  which  fell  from 
him,  (as  we  are  told  by  the  writer  of  his  Memoir,)  only  a  day  or  two 
before  his  death,  that  he  probably  regretted  the  harsh  a.nd  violent  ex- 
pressions which  he  had  suffered  himself  to  use  in  this  pamphlet — though 


DOCTOR    RICE.  297 

On  receiving  this  pamphlet,  and  glancing  over  two  or 
three  of  its  first  pages,  Dr.  Rice  was  strongly  disposed  not  to 
notice,  nor  even  to  read  it.  The  strain  of  personality  and 
insult,  indeed,  which  pervaded  the  whole  performance,  ap- 
peared to  forbid  the  respect  of  an  answer ;  and  he  felt  the 
strongest  possible  repugnance  to  prolong  a  controversy  which 
he  saw  was  not  to  be  waged,  on  his  adversary's  part,  in 
a  christian  spirit;  but  in  the  worst  style  of  a  merely  worldly 
contest.  Upon  reflection,  however,  and  consultation  with 
some  judicious  friends,  he  became  satisfied  that  not  only  his 
own  reputation,  but  the  cause  of  Christianity  itself,  required 
that  he  should  not  leave  his  high-church  antagonist  to  exult 
(as  he  would  be  sure  to  do)  in  the  mere  appearance  of  vic- 
tory which  silence  might  seem  to  yield  ;  but  to  give  him  that 
final  and  finishing  answer  which  he  had  so  rashly  provoked; 
and  accordingly  he  commenced  a  Review  of  the  "  Vindica- 
tion" in  the  Magazine  for  July  of  this  year,  which  he  con-, 
tinued  in  the  following  numbers  for  several  months.  In  this 
work,  which  was  afterwards  published  in  a  pamphlet,  he 
collects  all  his  strength,  and  all  liis  learning,  and  puts  them 
out  with  visible  and  striking  effect.  The  topics,  indeed,  are 
of  course  the  same  which  he  had  already  broached  in  his  pre- 
vious pieces ;  but  he  extends  his  remarks  to  embrace  the  new 

his  words  were  general.  "  I  liave  much"  said  he,  "  to  be  forgiven  of 
God,  and  have  n:any  pardons  to  ask  of  my  fellow  men,  for  my  harsh, 
ness  of  manner  towards  them.  But."  said  he, "  lifting  his  eyes  to  hea- 
ven, and  striking  upon  his  breast,  there  was  no  harshness  here."  (Me- 
moir prefixed  to  his  Works,  p.  65.)  It  is  stated,  too,  I  see,  in  the  Preface 
to  his  Works,  that  on  his  death-bed  he  gave  full  permission  to  the  editors 
"to  alter  tlie  form  of  the  Vindication,  audio  change  some  expressions  in 
it.'"  This,  however,  it  seems,  they  did  not  think  proper  to  do,  choosing 
rather,  as  they  say,  "  to  republish  the  tract  as  it  was  originally  written; 
that  the  reader  might  he  able  to  form  an  unbiassed  judgment  of  its  origi. 
nal  character ;"  and  accordingly  this  unfortunate  specimen  of  the  odium 
theologicum  remains  unaltered,  to  claim  the  pity  and  pardon  of  all  who 
have  a  real  respect  for  the  memory  of  its  author. 


298  MEMOIR    OF 

objections  and  assertions  of  his  opponent,  and  not  only 
maintains  the  ground  which  he  had  formerly  won  from  him, 
but  enlarges  it  by  new  conquests.  The  style  and  manner, 
too,  of  his  argument  are  as  happy  as  the  subject  and  matter 
of  it  are  important.  It  is  not  a  dry  discussion ;  but  he  enli- 
vens his  reasonings  with  a  frequent  flow  of  good  humour, 
and  occasional  sparkles  of  wit,  that  make  it  highly  enter- 
taining. Some  of  his  sallies,  indeed,  are  perhaps  a  little 
too  piquant ;  but  they  are  certainly  free  from  all  malice, 
and  considering  the  abundant  provocation  which  he  had 
received,  are  entirely  fair,  and  very  properly  applied.  We 
may  add,  that  these  articles  were  read  as  they  appeared  by 
many  persons  of  all  denominations,  with  great  satisfac- 
tion; and  our  reviewer  was  very  generally  allowed  not 
only  to  have  had  the  best  cause,  but  to  have  argued  it 
with  much  more  ability  than  his  eloquent  but  intemperate 
opponent. 

TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

Theological  Seminary^  August  12th,  1826. 
My  Beloved  Brother, 

I  was  extremely  glad  to  see  you  the  other  day,  although 
it  was  only  on  paper.  But  you  gave  me  so  perfect  an 
image  of  yourself  that  I  enjoyed  your  society  in  a  very 
high  degree  indeed ;  and  I  do  most  heartily  wish  that  you 
would  often  step  in,  and  let  me  see  you  in  the  same  way. 
But  I  had  rather  see  you  in  propria  persona,  and  feel  the 
touch  of  your  right  hand,  and  catch  the  beam  of  your  eye, 
by  ten  thousand  fold.  When  shall  I  have  this  pleasure? 
The  meeting  of  kindred  spirits,  and  the  interchange  of 
affection  and  thought,  is  to  me  more  like  heaven  than  any 
thing  I  enjoy  on  earth.  God  seems  to  be  nearer  to  me 
when  I  am  surrounded  by  his  dear  children,  who  have 
much  of  his  spirit,  than  at  any  other  time. 

My  friends  need  not  wonder  that  they  have  heard  but 
little  for  a  long  time  of  Mrs.  Rice  and  myself.     My  aged 


DOCTOR     RICE.  299 

i  father  has  been  with  us  since  last  November,  and  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  time  a  very  great  sufferer.  He,  at  the  age 
of  eighty,  has  been  labouring  under  a  general  dropsy.  For 
the  last  six  weeks  he  has,  though  weighing  two  hundred, 
been,  as  to  body  and  mind,  in  a  state  of  infantile  imbecility. 
Day  and  night,  we  have  been  obliged  to  attend  to  him 
without  intermission.  He  is,  within  two  or  three  days, 
somewhat  better.  But  as  long  as  he  lives  he  will  require 
constant  attention. 

The  drought  is  like  to  destroy  the  crops  here.  The 
heavens  are  like  brass,  and  the  earth  like  iron.  The  staple 
commodities  of  the  country  are  worth  almost  nothing,  and 
a  general  gloom  seems  to  pervade  the  people.  But  for  all 
this,  they  do  not  repent  of  their  sins,  and  turn  unto  the 
Lord.  Religion  is  in  a  very  declining  state.  Christians,  in 
their  anxiety  about  the  world,  forget  their  duty,  and  neglect 
their  spiritual  interests.  And  what  is  truly  shocking,  in 
the  society  here,  which  bears  the  character  of  being  the 
most  orderly  of  any  in  the  country,  there  have  been  com- 
mitted some  most  atrocious  crimes  lately.  The  community 
has  indeed  been  in  a  ferment  for  a  while ;  and,  among  other 
things,  have  parted  with  their  minister. 

We  had  have  thirteen  young  men  this  term.  Two  have 
left  us.  One  came,  a  licentiate,  to  stay  only  for  a  while. 
He  has  received  but  little  benefit:  the  other  is  licensed,  and 
promises  to  be  extremely  popular.  We  expect  six  or  eight 
more  next  term.  Perhaps  we  may  rise  to  twenty.  I  am 
doing  all  I  can  to  extend  the  sphere  of  our  institution,  and 
I  hope  for  success.  But  I  must  have  more  help  or  I  shall 
sink.  Mr.  Marsh  teaches  Hebrew  very  well.  But  I  have 
the  work  of  two  and  a  half  professors  to  do.  And  it  is  too 
much.  I  did  hope  by  the  end  of  this  year  to  get  the  means 
of  getting  another  professor.  But  the  pressure  of  the  times 
has  cut  off  that  hope,  and  I  do  not  know  what  I  shall  do. 
I  must  get  an  agent  to  go  to  the  North  and  East,  and  plead 
for  my  life.     Perhaps  my  friends  through  the  Northern  and 


300  MEMOIR     OF 

Middle  states,  will  make  one  vigorous  effort  to  save  me 
from  death.  I  have  no  expectation  that  I  can  go  through 
the  excessive  labours  that  I  now  have  to  perform,  and  not 
utterly  break  down  my  shattered  constitution. 

I  thank  you  heartily  for  your  sermon.  In  my  next  I  will 
tell  you  freely  what  I  think  of  it. 

I  rejoice  greatly  to  hear  of  the  success  of  my  beloved 
brother  Cornelius,  as  agent  for  the  Education  Society. 

If  Mrs.  Woods  knew  exactly  Mrs.  Rice's  situation,  she 
would  love  her  for  not  writing.  She  and  Harriet  (now  with 
us)  join  with  me  in  most  fervent  love  to  yourself,  Mrs.  W., 
and  all  the  children,  and  the  brethren  and  friends  in  An- 
dover. 

I  am  truly  yours,  as  ever, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  SAMUEL  L.  GRAHAM. 

Theological  Seminary,  August  29th,  1826. 
My  Dear  Sik, 

1  received  your  note,  and  am  sorry  to  learn  that  the  bre- 
thren of  whom  you  speak,  have  had  their  minds  warped  in 
the  way  you  mention.  Every  thing  seems  to  be  making 
against  the  real  prosperity  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  South.  But  we  must  not  he  discouraged.  If  the  Lord 
will  but  build  the  house,  none  can  hinder;  and  if  not,  let  it 
not  be  built,  say  I.  I  think  that  the  plan  proposed  on  our 
part,  ought  by  all  means  to  be  laid  before  the  Synod  of 
North  Carolina.  If  the  majority  of  the  Committee,  in  con- 
formity to  their  own  private  views  and  plans — plans  which 
have  not  in  any  way  received  the  sanction  of  the  Synod, — 
refuse  to  execute  the  trust  committed  to  them,  it  is  not 
proper,  in  my  judgment,  to  stop  a  work  which  met  the  ap- 
probation of  Synod,  and  which  they  ought  to  be  presumed 
still  to  approve.  It  is  then  my  earnest  request  that  you 
will  come  over  to  Charlotte  at  the  time  appointed,  (7th  of 
September,)  and  meet  our  Committee.   Let  us  give  as  much 


DOCTOR    RICE.  301 

form  and  authority  to  the  project  as  we  can,  and  report  it 
both  to  the  Presbytery  and  the  Synod.  It  is  my  purpose 
to  lay  the  paper  with  a  full  statement  of  all  the  facts  that 
may  transpire  before  the  Presbytery,  and  get  the  Presby- 
tery to  include  it  in  their  report  to  the  Synod  of  Virginia. 
I  am  inclined  to  think  that  our  Synod  will  readily  agree  to 
take  the  place  of  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover.  I  have  men- 
tioned the  project  to  several  members  of  the  Presbytery, 
and  all  are  willing  to  give  up  our  part  to  Synod ;  and  I  have 
been  seeking  information  from  other  Presbyteries,  so  that  I 
have  good  hope  that  one  part  of  my  plan  will  succeed. 
And  if  the  brethren  of  North  Carolina  will  but  drop  local 
feelings,  and  come  into  the  plan,  we  may  have  a  Seminary 
that  will  do  honour  to  the  Southern  churches,  and  exert  a 
mighty  influence  in  building  up  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer. 


TO  THE    REV.   ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Theological  Seniinary,  Nov.  14//i,  1826. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

On  Saturday  evening  I  arrived  at  home  from  a  tour  in 
North  Carolina,  as  far  as  Fayetteville.  Your  letter  of  the 
31st  October  had  come  to  hand  some  days  before  my  arrival. 

I  am  more  encouraged  about  our  Seminary  than  I  ever 
have  been.  We  are  now  prepared  to  fix  the  style  of  it,  and 
the  next  General  Assembly  will  be  requested  so  to  modify 
the  terms  proposed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Hanover,  as  to  de- 
nominate the  Institution,  the  Union  Seminary  of  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly,  under  the  care  of  the  Synods  of  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina.  This  is  the  plan  which  I  had  pro- 
posed; and  I  was  resolved  to  make  a  fair  experiment  to 
secure  its  adoption.  Should  it  fail,  I  was  determined  to  re- 
sign my  place.  Success,  I  thought,  would  repay  every 
effort.  The  proposition  made  to  the  Synod  of  Virginia  was 
unanimously  adopted;  as  I  hear,  with  great  good  feeling. 
That  to  North  Carolina  had  several  difficulties  to  encounter. 
27 


302  MEMOIR    OF 

Dr.  Caldwell,  who  has  more  influence  than  any  other  man 
in  the  state,  had  set  his  heart  very  much  on  having  a  Semi- 
nary in  North  Carolina.  He  is  a  very  able  opponent.  The 
subject  was  debated  for  two  days.  At  length  the  Doctor 
yielded.  Mr.  Roy  can  tell  you  all  about  it;  but  I  mention 
the  subject  for  the  sake  of  observing  that  when  Dr.  Caldwell 
found  that  the  majority  was  against  him,  and  felt  that  he  was 
totally  defeated,  instead  of  showing  offended  pride,  he 
yielded  with  all  the  grace  of  a  gentleman  and  a  christian. 
He  certainly  raised  himself  much  in  my  estimation  and  affec- 
tion. The  vote  was  well  nigh  unanimous.  I  think  now 
that  the  South  Carolina  plan  will  in  all  probability  fail — that 
the  institution,  when  fairly  under  way,  will  receive  the 
Southern  and  Southwestern  students — that  the  Western  and 
Northwestern  will  chiefly  go  to  Princeton,  and  that  the 
scheme  which  caused  so  much  trouble  last  Assembly  w^ill  be 
dormant  for  years  to  come.  Any  who  try  the  experiment, 
will  find  that  to  build  up  a  Seminary  is  not  so  easy  a  job, 
and  experience  of  the  difficulties  will  change  views  and 
inclinations  of  many  who  have  set  out  with  high  hopes,  and 
great  ardour. 

But  whi'e  thus  encouraged  there  is  one  point  which  makes 
trouble  for  me.  My  labours  are  excessive,  and  I  feel  that  I 
am  sinking  under  them.  I  did  hope  that  vacation  would  re- 
cruit me ;  but  although  I  have  travelled  700  miles,  I  have 
had  to  labour  as  severely  as  though  I  had  been  in  the  study, 
and  I  come  home  no  better.  My  principal  distress  is  in  the 
head.  I  suflfer  much  from  pain  ;  but  much  more  from  ner- 
vous irritability.  I  can  scarcely  bear  the  sound  made  by  my 
pen.  The  click  of  a  penknife,  or  the  crackling  of  the  fire, 
is  like  the  stroke  of  a  hammer  on  my  head,  and  I  feel  the 
sensation  through  every  part  of  my  frame,  to  the  extremities 
of  my  foes.  It  is  certain  that  unless  I  can  get  help,  I  can- 
not hold  out  much  longer.  The  Presbytery  directed  that  a 
young  man  who  can  teach  Hebrew  should  be  employed  im- 
mediately.    But  in  my  absence  nothing  has  been  done ;  and 


DOCTOR     RICE.  303 

now  the  seminary  has  opened,  and  tlie  whole  labour  has  fal- 
len on  me  alone.  It  is  indispensably  necessary  that  some 
help  should  be  obtained  speedily.  Will  you  not  speak  or 
write  to  Goodrich  on  the  subject  immediately ;  and  ascertain 
whether  he  will  come,  and  on  what  terms  for  the  present  ? 
If  I  knew  where  he  was  I  would  write  myself.  But  you 
can  tell  him  that  the  Presbytery  unanimously  authorized  the 
employment  of  some  person,  and  that  his  name  was  men- 
tioned. If  we  cannot  get  him,  we  must  look  some  where 
else.  But  I  had  much  rather  get  a  Princetonian  than  any 
other.  Pray  excuse  my  urgency  on  this  subject,  for  I  feel 
it  to  be  a  case  of  necessity. 


TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 
Theological  Seminary,  Nov.  lAthj  \  826. 
My  Dear  Christian  Brother, 

I  have  for  a  long  time  been  kept  so  busy  with  the  affairs 
of  our  seminary,  that  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  write  to 
you,  or  to  any  other,  except  on  indispensable  business.  You 
would  scarcely  credit  the  statement,  if  I  were  to  tell  you  all 
I  have  had  to  do  since  the  first  of  June.  But  I  thank  God, 
who  has  afforded  greater  success  than  I  expected  to  the  poor 
labours  which  I  have  performed.  The  prospect  of  building 
up  a  valuable  institution  here  becomes  more  encouraging. 
The  great  difficulty  heretofore  has  been  to  waken  up  an  in- 
terest in  Southern  Presbyterians,  and  induce  them  to  co-ope- 
rate. All  saw  the  wants  of  the  country,  and  lamented  the 
deplorable  state  of  the  church,  but  they  seemed  to  sink 
in  a  hopeless  despondency,  and  said  that  nothing  could  be 
done.  When  I  left  Richmond  to  come  to  this  place  only 
the  Presbytery  of  Hanover  took  any  interest  in  our  institu- 
tion ;  but  at  present  we  have  the  Synods  of  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina  pledged  to  support  the  Seminary.  I  have 
just  got  home  from  the  most  fatiguing  and  laborious  excur- 
sion that  I  ever  made  in  my  life ;  and  at  this  moment,  when 


304  MEMOIR     OF 

the  full  work  of  three  men  is  on  my  shoulders,  I  feel  quite 
worn  down  and  exhausted. 

In  all  my  labours  and  trials,  I  have  a  most  valuable  aid  in 
my  excellent  friend  Mr.  Roy,  whom  I  here  introduce  to  jou. 
He  is  general  agent  for  the  Seminary,  and  has  been  a  most 
invaluable  man  to  us.  To  him  I  refer  you  for  information 
as  to  the  present  state  and  prospects  of  our  institution.  He 
is  fully  possessed  of  the  whole  subject ;  and  will  call  on  you 
as  one  of  our  best  friends,  for  all  the  information  that  he  will 
need  in  prosecuting  his  agency. 

I  will  just  say  that  this  is  a  time  of  most  urgent  necessity 
with  us,  and  that  it  will  require  the  vigorous  efforts  of  all 
our  friends  for  the  present  to  keep  us  along,  until  the  plans 
which  we  have  laid  shall  be  carried  into  execution.  The 
Lord  in  his  mercy  succeeds  us  in  such  a  way  that  we  have 
hope  to  animate  us,  and  urge  us  forward.  Surely  he  who 
has  in  a  wonderful  manner  favoured  us  thus  far,  will  be  with 
us  to  the  end. 

We  have  in  several  places  the  prospect  of  revivals  of  re- 
ligion in  our  desolate  region.  My  beloved  people  in  Rich- 
mond are  now  higlily  favoured.  There  is  a  pleasing  excite- 
ment in  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina,  and  very  promising 
appearances  in  Lynchburg,  in  this  state.  May  God  pour  out 
his  spirit  on  all  flesh.  My  brother,  remember  us  in  your 
prayers.  May  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  on  you. 
Most  affectionately  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Theological  Seminary,  Feb,  20th j  1827. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  should  have  written  to  you  sooner,  but  have  been  pre- 
vented, partly  by  bad  health  and  excessive  occupation,  and 
partly  by  a  wish  to  make  some  trial  of  Mr.  G ,  be- 
fore I  would  say  any  thing  about  him. 

It  gives  me  very  great  pleasure  to  say  now,  that  as  far  as 


DOCTOR     RICE.  305 

Six  weeks  experience  has  enabled  me  to  form  a  judgment, 
you  could  not  possibly  have  made  a  belter  selection  of  an 
assistant  than  you  have  done,  Mr.  G's  attainraefits  are 
even  greator  than  I  expected,  I  think  his  talents  excellent, 
and  his  industry  in  study  more  than  sufficient.  But  his 
highest  qualification  is  his  very  warm  and  exemplary  piety. 
He  is  very  popular  as  a  preacher,  and  has  already  become 
a  very  general  favourite,  I  feel  very  greatly  indebted  to 
you  for  your  agency  in  this  business.  Had  not  Mr.  G.,  or 
some  assistant  been  obtained,  I  must  have  sunk  under  the 
severity  of  my  labours,  or  have  sought  another  situation, 
where  1  could  have  rendered  some  service  without  being 
kept  under  continual  pressure. 

My  hopes  are  good  respecting  the  ultimate  success  of  our 
plans,  and  the  utihty  of  our  enterprise.  We  have  now 
fifteen  students,  and  they  have  among  them  a  better  spirit 
than  I  have  before  witnessed  here.  They  are  very  diligent 
in  the  cultivation  of  personal  religion,  and  are  endeavouring 
to  be  useful  in  the  neighbourhood. 

We  have  quite  a  flourishing  Sabbatli-school  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. Some  of  the  young  men  have  recendy  opened 
another  in  Farmville,  where  they  have  gathered  nearly  forty 
scholars,  and  where  a  weekly  prayer-meeting  is  well  at- 
tended.  A  third  school  has  been  opened  under  quite  en- 
couraging circumstances,  about  six  miles  south  near  the 
Charlotte  road,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Diggers;  and 
there  a  weekly  prayer-meeting  is  held  also. 

The  circumstances  of  the  congregation  here  are,  I  think, 
improving.  There  is  an  indication  of  better  feeling,  and,  if 
I  mistake  not,  more  of  a  spirit  of  prayer  among  the  people. 
Our  hopes  are  somewhat  raised.  But  there  is  this  to  dis- 
courage us,  that  the  spirit  of  party  politics  is  waxing  very 
hot  among  the  people ;  and  1  fear  that  we  are  going  to  have 
something  of  what  we  witnessed  in  the  days  of  the  other 
John  Adams. 

The  revival  in  Richmond  has  not  ceased ;  and  there  are 
27* 


306  MEMOIR      OF 

very  encouraging  prospects   in  Petersburg.      The  church 
there  appears  to  be  much  awakened  up. 

I  sa\V  Archy  Lyle  yesterday.  He  tells  me  his  father's 
health  is  truly  bad.  I  am  very  apprehensive  about  him. 
Archy  saw  James  and  William  the  day  before  ;  and  I  learn 
that,  probably,  they  will  be  with  us  by  to-morrow.  Best 
love  to  Mrs.  A.  and  the  children,  as  well  as  to  yourself, 
from  Mrs,  R.  and 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ.. 

Theological  Seminary,  Feb.  24th,  1827. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  received  your  letter  and  the  copies  of  your  speech, 
and  I  heartily  thank  you  for  all. 

Your  speech,  as  far  as  I  have  known,  is  very  much  ap- 
proved of;  and  skittish  as  you  think  me,  1  do  not  see  any 
thing  in  it  to  which  I  object,  on  any  subject.  Your  remarks 
have  convinced  me  that  you  do  not  apprehend,  (and  I  am 
sure  that  the  fault  is  in  me  that  you  do  not,)  the  ground  of 
my  caution  in  this  matter.  I  am  most  fully  convinced  that 
slavery  is  the  greatest  evil  in  our  country,  except  whiskey ; 
and  it  is  my  most  ardent  prayer  that  we  may  be  delivered 
from  it.  But  it  is  my  full  belief  that  the  deliverance  is  not 
to  be  accomplished  by  the  combination  of  benevolent  socie- 
ties. The  great  body  of  persons  composing  such  societies 
are  too  little  accustomed  to  calculate  consequences.  They 
go  directly  at  their  measure,  and  have  no  means  of  accom- 
plishing it  but  the  producing,  by  means  of  speeches  and 
addresses,  a  strong  excitement.  But  on  a  subject  of  this 
delicate  character,  where  much  opposition  is  to  be  en- 
countered, these  very  means  give  the  adversary  an  advan- 
tage, which  he  will  not  fail  to  use  to  the  injury,  perhaps  to 
the  destruction  of  the  Society.  While,  therefore,  I  do  most 
devoutly  wish  success  to  the  Colonization  Society,  I  do  ear- 
nestly wish  that  its  friends  may  not  refer  to  it  as  a  means  of 


DOCTOR     RICE.  307 

deliverance  from  slavery.  Should  that  success  which  I 
hope  for  crown  the  efforts  of  this  association,  the  existence 
of  a  prosperous  colony  on  the  western  coast,  will  of  itself 
do  more  for  the  cause  of  emancipation,  than  all  that  any, 
or  all  of  us,  now  can  effect  by  speaking  of  these  things. 
So  fully  am  I  convinced  of  this,  that  I  deplore  every  move- 
ment that  raises  any  thing  like  opposition  to  the  Society. 

The  reason  why  I  am  so  strenuously  opposed  to  any  move- 
ment by  the  church,  or  the  ministers  of  religion  on  this  sub- 
ject, is  simply  this.  I  am  convinced  that  any  thing  we  can 
do  will  injure  religion,  and  retard  the  march  of  public 
|feeling  in  relation  to  slavery.  I  take  the  case  to  be  just  this  : 
as  slavery  exists  among  us,  the  only  possible  chance  of  de- 
liverance is  by  'making  the  people  willing  to  get  rid  of  it. 
At  any  rate,  it  is  this  or  physical  force.  The  problem  to 
be  solved  is,  to  produce  that  state  of  the  public  will,  which 
Iwill  cause  the  people  to  move  spontaneously  to  the  eradica- 
tion of  the  evil.  Slaves  by  law  are  held  as  property.  If 
the  church  or  the  minister  of  religion  touches  the  subject,  it 
is  touching  what  are  called  the  rights  of  property.  The 
jealousy  among  our  countrymen  on  this  subject  is  such,  that 
we  cannot  move  a  step  in  this  way,  without  wakening  up 
the  strongest  opposition,  and  producing  the  most  violent  ex- 
citement. The  whole  mass  of  the  community  will  be  set  in 
motion,  and  the  great  body  of  the  church  will  be  carried 
along.  Under  this  conviction,  I  wish  the  ministers  of  reli- 
gion to  be  convinced  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament wliieh  obliges  them  to  take  hold  of  this  subject  di- 
rectly. In  fact,  I  believe  that  it  never  has  fared  well  with 
either  church  or  state,  when  the  church  meddled  with  tem- 
poral affairs.  And  I  should — knowing  how  unmanageable 
religious  feeling  is,  when  not  kept  under  the  immediate  in- 
fluence of  divine  truth — be  exceedingly  afraid  to  see  it  brought 
to  bear  directly  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  Where  the  move- 
ment might  end,  I  could  not  pretend  to  conjecture. 

But  I  tell  you  what  I  wish.     While  we  go  on  minding 


308  MEMOIR      OF 

our  own  business,  and  endeavouring  to  make  as  many  good 
christians  as  possible  among  masters  and  servants,  let  the 
subject  of  slavery  be  discussed  in  the  political  papers,  Re- 
views, <fec.,  as  a  question  of  political  economy.  Keep  it 
entirely  free  from  all  ecclesiastical  connexions,  and  from  all 
the  politics  of  the  general  government ;  and  treat  it  as  a  mat- 
ter of  State  concernment.  Examine  its  effects  on  the  ag- 
riculture, commerce,  and  manufactures  of  the  State.  Com- 
pare the  expense  of  free  and  slave  labour.  Bring  dis- 
tinctly before  the  people  the  evil  in  its  unavoidable  opera- 
tions and  its  fearful  increase.  Set  them  to  calculating  the 
weight  of  their  burdens.  Let  them  see  how  many  old 
slaves,  and  young  slaves,  who  produce  nothing,  they  have 
to  support.  Show  them  how  slavery  deducts  from  the  mili- 
tary force  as  well  as  the  wealth  of  a  country,  &c.  &c.  Con- 
siderations of  this  sort,  combined  with  the  benevolent  feel- 
ings growing  out  of  a  gradual,  uninterrupted  progress  of  re- 
ligion, will,  I  believe,  set  the  people  of  their  own  accord  to 
seek  deliverance.  They  will  foresee  the  necessity  of  a 
change  ;  soon  begin  to  prepare  for  it;  and  it  will  come  about 
without  violence  or  convulsion.     Such  is  my  opinion. 

But  I  had  no  thought  of  writing  in  this  way.  I  thank 
you  again  for  your  speech.  The  inscription  I  regard  as  ho- 
nourable to  me.  The  testimony  of  your  good  opinion  will 
always  be  so  held  by  me.  Your  friendship  is  a  great  com- 
fort. I  delight  in  your  co-operation  in  endeavouring  to  pro- 
mote the  good  of  old  Virginia.  And  I  leave  it  to  you  to 
write  a  memoir  of  me,  when  I  am  gone. 

There  is  a  plan  which  I  wish  to  suggest  to  you,  and  I 
beg  you  to  think  favourably  of  it.  The  magazine  is  too  good, 
in  your  sense.  I  want  to  make  it  more  literary.  Why  can 
you  not  furnish  once  a  month,  a  literary  article  to  enliven 
the  number  ?  You  may  have  a  carte  blanche  for  subjects. 
Do  now  brace  yourself  up,  and  undertake  this  thing, 

Mrs.  Rice  said  last  night,  as  she  says  frequently,  "  I  do 


DOCTOR     RICE.  309 

want  to  see  Mr.  M mightily."     Come  next  summer 

and  breathe  our  fine  air.     My  love  to  all  friends. 
Yours  most  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.D. 

Mr.  Lyle's,  March  22d,  1827. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  am  here  in  a  scene  of  great  affliction.  You  will  be  af- 
flicted too,  when  you  learn  that  this  is  a  fatherless  family ; 
and  that  Mrs.  Lyle  is  a  widow.  It  pleased  an  all  wise  Pro- 
vidence this  day  to  remove  our  excellent  friend  and  brother 
from  this  world,  as  we  assuredly  believe,  to  a  better.  He 
died  this  evening  a  little  after  sunset.  His  disease  was  a 
disorder  of  the  stomach  and  liver.  During  a  considerable 
part  of  the  last  summer  he  appeared  to  be  in  rather  infirm 
health  ;  and  I  persuaded  him  most  earnestly  to  cease  preach- 
ing, and  go  to  the  Springs;  but  could  not  succeed.  As  the 
winter  came  on,  his  health  declined  still  more  ;  but  nothing 
could  persuade  him  to  quit  his  work,  or  disuse  his  favourite 
beverage — coflfee.  But  it  is  useless  to  pursue  the  detail  of 
causes  which  conspired  to  produce  the  event  which  we  now 
deplore. 

Mr.  Lyle's  last  hours  were  not  such  as  to  permit  him  to 
communicate  any  thing  of  his  feelings  or  views.  His  voice 
failed  him,  so  that  it  was  with  very  great  difficulty  that  he 
could  say  any  thing.  And  although  never  delirious,  yet  he 
was  for  some  time  in  a  comatose  state ;  and  generally  the 
brain  seemed  to  perform  its  functions  very  laboriously.  This 
was  so  much  the  case,  that  his  afflicted  wife  and  children 
have  to  refer  to  his  life  for  evidence  of  his  being  prepared 
for  death.  We  are  all  thankful  that  here  we  have  evidence 
enough.  You  know  that  there  never  was  a  man  of  more 
absolute  sincerity ;  never  one  who  was  more  entirely  what 
he  professed  to  be.  And  though  he  gave  no  dying  testimo- 
ny, his  living  one  was  sufficient  for  the  purpose.     Mrs. 


310  MEMOIR     OF 

Lyle  affords  the  greatest  pattern  of  calm,  firm,  steady  resig- 
nation that  I  have  ever  seen.  She  says,  that  *'  for  more  than 
a  thousand  times  she  has  prayed  that  God  might  order  her 
lot  for  her ;  and  now  that  he  has  done  this,  she  has  no  right 
to  murmur  or  repine ;  and  does  hope  that  he  will  not  leave 
her  comfortless."  Her  fortitude  seems  to  sustain  the  whole 
family ;  and  there  really  seems  to  be  something  of  the  pre- 
sence of  God  about  the  house.  She  is  no  common  woman. 
Mr.  Lyle's  children  that  are  grown  are  all  very  respectable 
— and  Archibald,  who  lives  at  home  and  manages  the  farm, 
is  really  one  of  the  finest  young  men  I  ever  saw.  He  has 
the  firmness  and  integrity  of  his  father,  with  a  most  uncom- 
mon stock  of  kindly  and  soft  feeling.  I  do  suppose  that 
there  is  not  a  more  respectable  young  man  in  the  whole 
county,  nor  one  more  beloved.  I  fully  expect  that  God  will 
make  the  children  great  blessings  to  their  mother.  I  do  not 
know  any  thing  particular  of  the  worldly  circumstances  of 
the  family.  But  there  are  you  know  ten  children,  of  whom 
seven  yet  live  with  their  mother,  and  several  are  yet  to  be 
educated. 

I  wish  to  make  arrangements  to  have  Mr.  Lyle's  pulpit 
supplied  during  the  year,  so  as  to  continue  his  salary  from 
the  congregations  until  Christmas  ;  or,  at  any  rate,  as  long  as 
the  people  will  rest  satisfied  witho-ut  a  pastor.  I  hope  that 
this  can  be  done ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  be  a  conve- 
nience to  the  family. 

The  people  in  general  were  greatly  attached  to  Mr.  Lyle, 
and  they  appear  sincerely  to  deplore  his  loss.  It  will  be 
felt  through  this  whole  section  of  the  church — for  his  influ- 
ence was  great. 

This  event  has  turned  my  thoughts  and  feelings  very 
strongly  to  you.  May  it  please  the  Head  of  the  Church  to 
spare  you  for  many  years  to  come,  and  to  give  you  health 
to  labour  in  building  up  his  kingdom  of  righteousness. 

Mrs.  Rice  unites  with  me  in  most  affectionate  remembrance 
of  Mrs.  Alexander  and  the  children. 


DOCTOR     E  ICE.  311 

I  am,  as  I  always  have  been  since  I  knew  you,  most  truly 
yours,  <fcc., 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

TTieologiccd  Seminary,  Jipril  I4th,  1827. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  hope  you  will  excuse  me  for  putting  you  to  a  little  trou- 
ble. There  lives  in  this  neighbourhood  a  black  man  named 
Billy  Brown.  He  has  been  free  for  sixteen  years  ;  but  has 
never  obtained  legal  permission  to  reside  in  the  State.  Some 
gentleman,  however,  has  stood  his  master,  and  he  has  re- 
mained here  in  security.  He  purchased  his  wife  some  years 
ago,  and  she,  according  to  our  law,  belongs  to  him.  Should 
he  die,  her  case  will  be  a  bad  one.  He  therefore  determines 
to  leave  Virginia.  And  the  question  is,  where  shall  he  go  ? 
He  says  that  he  is  getting  old,  and  has  no  children,  and  there- 
fore it  does  not  suit  him  to  go  to  Liberia.  He  has  accumu- 
lated, it  is  said,  a  right  handsome  sum  of  money,  by  washing 
for  the  students,  and  hiring  them  horses,  &c.  I  believe  that 
his  character  stands  fair.  He  has  some  thought  of  going  to 
Princeton,  or  New  Haven  ;  because  he  thinks  business  can 
be  gotten  there,  such  as  he  has  been  used  to.  1  have  some 
doubts  whether  he  could  do  so  well,  because  I  suppose  there 
are  in  those  places  more  hands  than  work.  I  promised  to 
write  and  get  the  opinion  of  some  judicious  person  on  this 
matter.  I  do  not  know  whom  to  trouble  with  it  but  you. 
Will  you,  if  possible,  let  me  hear  from  you  on  this  subject 
immediately,  and  direct  your  letter  to  Petersburg,  for  I  ex- 
pect to  be  there  all  the  week  following  this. 

This  case  brings  to  my  mind  one  on  which  I  feel  the 
deepest  solicitude.  I  hear  that  the  matter  from  the  Synod 
of  Ohio  respecting  slavery  will  be  brought  before  the  next 
General  Assembly.  Should  this  be  the  case,  I  fear  that  there 
will  be  a  discussion  of  the  subject.  And  I  am  under  the  full- 
est conviction  that  this  will  do  very  great  injury.     As  soon 


312  MEMOIR     OF 

as  John  Q.  Adams  was  elected  President  of  the  United 
States,  I  foresaw  that  there  was  to  be  a  violent  collision  be- 
tween the  north  and  the  south ;  that  the  subject  of  slavery 
would  be  brought  into  party  politics  and  religion ;  and  that 
Presbyterians  were  to  be  greatly  embarrassed  by  it.  You 
know  the  old  jealousies  that  were  raised  against  the  clergy, 
when  Federalism  was  the  matter  in  dispute.  These  pre- 
judices are  not  yet  dead.  The  enemies  of  religion,  and 
the  different  sects,  are  willing  enough  to  use  them  against 
us ;  and  there  is  not  a  single  act  of  our  church  which 
can  be  laid  hold  of  to  our  disadvantage,  but  is  at  once 
seized  with  avidity.  An  individual  minister  cannot  do  a 
thing  which  is  not  used  for  the  same  purpose.  And  if  the 
Presbyterian  Church  will  take  hold  of  slavery,  they  may 
just  as  well  bid  us  abandon  the  Southern  country.  We  must 
either  do  that,  or  make  up  our  minds  to  bear  the  violence  of 
persecution.  Besides,  it  is  physically  impossible  for  any 
decision  of  the  church  to  be  carried  into  effect.  Because 
taking  the  members  generally,  three-fourths  are  women  and 
minors,  persons  not  acknowledged  in  law.  What  could 
they  do  ?  Of  the  remaining  fourth,  three  out  of  four  are 
people  in  moderate  circumstances,  without  political  influ- 
ence. In  this  state  of  things,  any  direct  movement  of  the 
church  on  the  subject  would,  it  seems  to  me,  inevitably  do 
harm  rather  than  good. 

I  am  confident  that  already  material  injury  has  been  done, 
in  the  way  of  impeding  the  progress  of  feeling  in  this  coun- 
try against  slavery.  There  is  a  march  of  opinion  on  the 
subject,  which  would,  if  uninterrupted,  at  no  distant  date, 
annihilate  this  evil  in  Virginia.  I  have  no  doubt  of  it.  And 
every  step  gained  by  true  religion  is  a  step  towards  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  object.  But  as  soon  as  the  ministers 
of  religion  take  hold  of  it,  the  old  jealousy  is  revived,  and 
people  determine  that  the  clergy  shall  not  interfere  in  their 
secular  interests,  and  their  rights  of  property.  The  diffi- 
^  culty  of  getting  any  sound  religious  instruction  to  the  negroes 


DOCTOR     RICE.  313 

is  thus  greatly  enhanced.  And  in  every  way  we  are  thrown 
all  aback.  There  is  nothing  on  which  I  feel  so  great  solici- 
tude. I  have  long  had  it  as  an  object  dearest  to  my  heart,  ( 
to  get  Virginia  free  from  slavery.  I  feel  that  the  direct  exer- 
tions of  the  church  hinder  the  work.  And  I  am  suffering 
very  deeply  under  apprehensions  of  mischief  from  the  indis- 
creet agitation  of  the  subject  from  Ohio.  Perhaps  you  can 
relieve  my  mind  on  this  matter. 
Our  best  love  to  all. 

As  ever  yours  most  truly. 

J.  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  ANNE  S.  RICE. 

New  York,  June.  \st,  1827* 
My  Beloved  Wife, 

From  Monday  until  Wednesday  evening,  I  was  so  pressed 
with  the  business  of  the  Assembly,  that  I  could  not  write. 
On  Thursday  I  came  off  to  New  York.  My  reason  was, 
that  I  was  persuaded  we  could  do  little  or  nothing  at  this 
time  in  Philadelphia  ;  and  I  would  not  have  the  name  of  that 
city  to  a  trifling  subscription  for  our  Seminary.  My  plan 
then  is  to  fix  on  a  time  when  we  can  operate  without  the 
impediments  of  the  General  Assembly,  or  any  interfering 
scheme  of  any  magnitude.  To  this  end,  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  write  beforehand  to  the  leading  men  of  the  city,  that 
they  may  keep  themselves  in  reserve  for  our  our  object. 
This  would  have   succeeded  well  this  spring,  had  not  my 

letters  to  Mr.  R ,  Mr.  H ,  and  others,  been  received 

just  after  they  had  pledged  the  whole  of  their  charitable 
fund,  for  the  year,  to  the  American  Sunday  School  Union. 
Indeed  some  of  them  had  gone  beyond  their  annual  sum,  at 
least  a  thousand  dollars.  And  these  were  the  men,  too,  who 
are  looked  to  in  Philadelphia  as  examples,  and  whose  lead 
is  followed  by  all  others. 

The  Seminary  of  Pittsburg  has  its  Board  of  Directors. — 
28 


314  MEMOIR      OF 

Dr.  Janeway  is  the  Professor  of  Theology  elect — and  it  is 
believed  he  will  accept  I 

There  had  like  to  have  been  an  explosion  in  the  General 
Assembly  about  the  missionary  cause.  Some  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Doctors  were  very  desirous  to  get  up  a  new  foreign 
mission ;  and  the  New  Yorkers  could  not  bear  that.  How- 
ever all  went  off  well. 

My  Pastoral  Letter  was  heard  and  adopted  by  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  without  criticism  or  objection,  unanimously. 

I  do  not  know  how  New  York  feels  now  towards  the 
Seminary,  but  we  shall  make  a  fair  trial  soon. 

My  health  is  better,  my  spirits  as  good  as  they  can  be  in 
your  absence.  But  I  do  feel  the  want  of  you  most  exceed- 
ingly. Duty  will  I  hope  pay  us  for  the  pain  of  separation. 
Nothing  else  can,  I  am  sure.  I  cannot  sleep  well  since  you 
left  me.  I  wake  early  and  fall  asleep  late.  Success  in  New 
York  will  be  my  best  opiate. 

I  presume  there  will  be  but  two  classes  at  the  Seminary 
this  summer.  The  first  class  will  pursue  the  study  of  Greek 
and  Hebrew,  as  they  did  last  winter.  The  second  will  go  on 
with  their  study  of  the  Bible ;  writing  essays  on  the  various 
topics,  or  Heads  of  Divinity,  in  the  order,  pretty  much,  as 
before.  Besides  I  wish  them  to  read  Dr.  Alexander's  book 
on  the  Canon  of  Scripture. 

I  wish  the  students  to  form  a  society,  the  object  of  which 
shall  be  to  give  them  exercise  in  the  exposition  of  the  Bible. 
The  general  plan  that  I  have  thought  of  is,  for  a  portion  of 
scripture  to  be  selected,  on  which  a  member  of  the  society 
appointed  for  the  purpose,  shall  prepare  an  expository  lec- 
ture, to  be  read  at  the  succeeding  meeting.  The  other  mem- 
bers of  the  society  shall  read  in  the  original,  and  study  as 
carefully  as  possible  the  same  passage,  and  so  be  prepared 
to  discuss  any  difficulties  that  may  be  found  in  the  passage, 
and  refute  or  sustain  the  expositions,  and  remarks  contained 
in  the  lecture.     This  is  the  best  plan  of  an  association  for  a 


DOCTOR     RICE.  315 

Theological  Seminary  that  I  have  heard  or  thought  of.  But 
a  Theological  debating  society,  of  the  character  of  a  college 
debating  society,  I  cannot  think  of  without  utter  repugnance, 
and  even  a  feeling  of  horror. 

I  want  to  know  whether  the  Union  Society  owns  Baker's 
Livy,  Smith's  Thucydides,  Murphy's  Tacitus,  and  Lord 
Bacon's  works. 

Tell  Mr.  Bartlett  that  if  I  had  a  catalogue  of  the  books  of 
the  society,  so  as  to  know  exactly  what  they  have,  I  could 
buy  books  plenty  at  half  price,  and  very  excellent  books  too. 

Give  my  best  love  to  all.  My  dearest  love,  may  God  be 
present  with  you,  to  cheer  and  comfort  you,  and  do  you  all 
good.     My  love  to  all.     Direct  to  Mr.  James's  care,  Sic, 

TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

JVeiv  York,  June  5th,  1827. 
My  Revered  and  Beloved  Brother, 

I  have  long  been  indebted  to  you  for  a  most  kind  and  affec- 
tionate letter.  I  should  have  written  to  you  long  ago,  had  not 
the  state  of  my  health  been  such  that  I  was  obliged  to  refrain 
from  writing,  except  in  cases  of  strict  and  absolute  necessity. 
During  the  last  year,  the  pressure  on  me  was  so  heavy  that 
for  five  months  I  had  a  continual  headache,  and  my  nerves 
became  so  irritable,  that  the  click  of  a  penknife,  or  the 
scratching  of  a  stiff  pen  on  paper,  after  an  hour's  confine- 
ment, was  just  like  a  strong  shock  of  electricity  through  my 
brain.  I  may  say  that  half  my  time  was  spent  in  torture.  I 
felt  that  I  must  either  give  up  this  great  enterprise  in  which 
I  am  engaged  for  the  South  or  sink  under  the  load,  which 
was  pressing  oa  me.  The  Lord  just  at  that  very  time,  put 
it  into  the  hearts  of  a  few  of  my  beloved  friends  in  New  York, 
to  raise  a  fund  to  support  a  young  man  who  should  assist 
me.  But  his  support  is  only  for  two  years.  Li  the  mean 
time,  we  must  endeavour  to  get  a  permanent  establishment 
for  him,  or  for  some  one  else ;  or  I  shall  again  be  left  alone. 


316  MEMOIR     OF 

The  present  is  a  critical  year  with  us.     The  house  which 
we  have  built  has  cost  eight  thousand  dollars.     The  library 
about  eight  thousand  dollars.     Our  invested  fund  does  not 
amount  to  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  the  situation  of  about 
two  thousand  of  that  is  such,  by  the  will  of  the  donor,  that 
we  receive  nothing  from  it.     So  that  I  have  to  depend  for 
my  support  now  on  the  interest  of  twelve  thousand  dollars. 
I  have  sacrificed  my  little  estate,  in  order  to  establish  and 
support  a  religious  printing  press  in  the  South.     So  that  I 
have  found  it  very  difficult  work  to  live  through  the  year. 
We  have  a  subscription  to  the  South  of  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  ;  but  that  was  pwyosely  conditional,  so  that  none  of 
it  is  binding  unless  we  can  raise  two  professorships.     In  a 
word,  the  state  of  things  is  such,  that  if  the  brethren  abroad 
will  help  us,  we  can  get  along,  and  a  Seminary  will  be  built 
up  to   bless    the    Southern   country.     But   if  they  cannot 
stretch  out  a  hand  for  our  aid,  we  shall  have  to  struggle  along 
for  years  doing  but  little,  and  the  result  must  be,  that  I  shall 
sink  prematurely  to  the  grave  through  the  excess  of  my 
labour.     I  say  these  things  to  you  in  all  the  confidence  of 
fraternal  love.     There  are  few  in  the  world  to  whom  I  could 
in  like  manner  lay  myself  open.     But  all  this  has  an  object. 
I  wish  to  know  of  you  what  probability  there  is  of  my  obtain- 
ing aicl  for  our  Seminary  in  your  region.     1   wish  you  to 
write  to  me  immediately  if  you  can,  and  tell  me  with  your 
accustomed  frankness,  what  your  judgment  is.     If  I  can  do 
nothing,  much  as  it  would  delight  me  to  be  with  you,  duty 
will  not  allow  me  to  come.     I  know  that  you  have  many 
objects  before  you  now.     But  perhaps  there  are  benevolent 
persons,  who,  after  all  that  they  have  done,  are  yet  able  to 
afford  us  material  aid.     Is  there  reason  to  believe  that  they 
will  do  it?     If  some  one  could  be  prevailed  on,  by  a  dona- 
tion of  ten  or  twelve  thousand  dollars,  to  fill  up  the  partially 
endowed  professorship  which  is  now  aflx)rding  me  half  a 
living,  it  would  be  a  relief  from  present  embarrassment,  of 
the  most  important  character.     I  hope  to  hear  from  you  very 


DOCTOR     RICE.  317 

shortly.     Direct  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Joseph  S.  James,  New- 
York. 

Mrs.  Rice  has  just  written  to  me  that  she  is  well.  I  know 
that  she  loves  you  and  yours  exceedingly.  Commend  me 
to  the  brethren.  Give  ray  love  to  Mrs.  Woods  and  the  chil- 
dren. 

Most  affectionately  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  ANNE  S.  RICE. 

New  York,  June  I2th,  1827. 
My  Beloved  Wife, 

1  received  your  letter  of  the  6th  inst.  and  it  was  indeed 
"  good  news  from  a  far  country,*'  and  "  like  cold  water  to  a 
thirsty  soul."  I  was  longing  to  hear  of  your  safe  arrival  at 
home  ;  and  to  see  that  you  found  all  well.  I  do  desire  to  be 
thankful  from  the  very  heart  to  the  Father  of  all  Mercies  for 
his  great  goodness  to  me  and  mine.  O !  may  a  gracious 
Providence  still  watch  over  us,  and  keep  us  in  safety,  and 
bring  us  together  in  peace.  My  health  is  still  improving,  I 
think ;  but  the  business  I  am  on  is  extremely  wearisome  to 
the  flesh,  and  still  worse  to  the  spirits.  After  all,  this  being 
a  beggar  goes  strongly  against  my  Virginia  feelings. 

I  hope  that  we  shall  succeed,  however,  in  our  object. 
After  a  good  deal  of  talking  and  labour,  we  have  obtained  a 
hearty,  unanimous  recommendation  of  our  object  from  the 
body  of  the  New  York  clergy.  It  is  said  to  be  the  only 
thing  in  which  they  have  been  unanimous  for  more  than  a 
dozen  years.  And  the  influence  of  the  clergy  is  so  great, 
that  I  hope  for  success  to  a  good  degree  from  that  source.  I 
also  hope  because  I  believe  that  a  number  of  the  good  peo- 
ple of  New  York  are  praying  for  us.  God  has  given  me,  as 
appears,  a  good  degree  of  favour  here.  But  I  am  not  able  to 
tell  you  how  much  we  have  obtained,  or  may  consider  as 
pledged,  because  several  who  were  about  to  subscribe  have 
delayed,  at  our  request,  in  hope  of  getting  others  to  join 

28* 


318  MEMOIR     OP 

them,  so  as  to  raise  their  subscriptions  to  five  hundred  dol- 
lars. Let  the  Seminary  continue  in  prayer  that  the  Lord 
may  bless  our  efforts,  and  make  them  efficient. 

I  have  proceeded  more  slowly  in  making  applications,  be- 
cause it  is  indispensably  necessary  that  we  should  proceed 
successfully.  This  year  will  be  a  critical  year  with  us.  If 
we  do  not  get  our  Professorships  filled  up  during  this  season, 
I  apprehend  from  the  course  of  events  that  we  shall  stick 
fast.  T  feel  myself  called  on,  then,  if  possible  to  make  sure 
work.  My  heart  swells  sometimes  as  though  it  would 
break  with  desire  to  be  with  you,  and  enjoy  all  that  siveet 
home  affords.  And  it  often  appears  as  though  I  could  not 
bear  this  absence ;  but  must  go  home.  Still,  however,  the 
necessity  of  the  case,  and  the  urgent  claims  of  duty  keep  me 
here.  I  want  you  in  my  begging  trips  much  more  even  than 
at  any  other  time. 

I  have  written  to  you  twice,  I  hope  you  have  received 
both  letters  before  this.  I  shall  endeavour  to  be  a  faithful 
correspondent,  although  I  am  afraid  that  this  will  be  too  late 
to  get  to  you  on  Friday. 

People  often  talk  of  you  here  ;  and  in  a  way  of  very  great 
affection.  Mr,  Taylor  says  he  will  write  as  soon  as  he  finds 
any  thing  worth  your  hearing.  Many  people  here  seem  to 
love  you  much. 

Present  me  very  affectionately  to  Mr.  Goodrich,  and  ta 
the  students.  May  all  good  be  on  you:  and  may  you  be 
long  spared  as  the  greatest  blessing  to  &c. 

TO  MRS.  ANNE  S.  RICE. 

New  York,  June  \Uh,  1827. 
My  Most  Beloved  Wife, 

I  received  yesterday  your  precious  letter  of  the  9th.  I 
thank  you  for  it.  I  do  hope  I  may  be  thus  refreshed  twice 
a  week,  until  this  painful  absence  shall  be  over.  I  find  it 
worse  than  I  expected.  The  work  I  am  in  is  painful ;  it  is 
extremely  laborious ;  it  excites  the  feelings,  and  exhausts 


DOCTOR     RICE.  319 

them  of  course  more  than  preaching  or  study.     And  it  ne- 
cessarily moves  slowly.     I  am  obliged  to  take  care  of  my- 
self, or  I  shall  be  utterly  broken  down.     I  often  have  to  call 
on  one  man  two  or  three  times  before  I  can  find  him  in  ;  and 
then  after  hearing  my  story,  he  says,  "  I  will  think  of  it,  and 
you  can  call  again  in  a  day  or  two ;  when  I  will  let  you 
know  what  I  will  do  for  you."     In  this  way  I  have  to  work 
from  week  to  week.     Nothing  but  the  good  cause,  and  the 
necessity  of  the  case,  could  induce  me  to  continue  here  an- 
other hour.     But  this  thing  must  be  done.     And  it  must  be 
done  now.     Next  year  we  shall  have  no  chance  at  all.  The 
people  here  are  only  waiting  for  me  to  get  out  of  the  way, 
to  bring  forward  other  enterprises.     I  should  not  be  sur- 
prised if  next  year  we  should  hear  of  a  seminary  for  the  vi- 
cinity of  New  York.     I  can't  tell  you  all  that  I  have  learned 
here,  in  a  letter ;  but  you  shall  know  when  I  see  you.   Pro- 
vidence graciously  preserves  my  health.     Indeed  I  have  no- 
thing to  complain  of,  but  some  indications  of  my  nervous 
irritability.     That  is  such  as  obliges  me  to  spare  myself,  and 
to  take  more  time  than  otherwise  would  be  necessary.     We 
have  obtained  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  $6000.     We 
hope  in  the  next  ten  days  to  get  about  14,000  more  ;  and  I 
cannot  think  of  leaving  New  York  until  then.     What  farther 
concerning  my  movements  can  be  known  I  hope  to  tell  you 
in  my  next  letter. 

I  am  exceedingly  glad  that  the  students  are  going  on  well. 
Dear  youth  !  may  the  Lord  bless  them  ;  and  train  them  for 
every  good  work.  Tell  them  there  are  many  prayers  offer- 
ed for  them  here.  And  let  the  success  of  this  painful  labour 
of  mine  be  a  subject  of  most  earnest  and  daily  prayer  to  God. 
I  am  greatly  encouraged  with  the  hope  of  getting  material 
and  permanent  aid  for  our  young  men,  from  the  Young  Men's 
Education  Society  here.  I  shall  receive  the  proceeds  of  Mr. 
Little's  scholarship,  and  an  appropriation  for  four  young 
men  besides — I  hope  for  six.  My  abode  here  is  increasing 
the  interest  for  our  Seminary,  and  good  will  grow  out  of  it> 
painful  as  it  is. 


320  MEMOIR     OF 

My  love  to  the  students — to  all  the  neighbours — to  the 
servants.  As  for  you,  I  have  no  words  to  say  how  much  I 
love  you.  Your  relations  are  dear  to  me  as  my  own.  Let 
the  dear  Major,  and  all  with  him,  know  this.  Love  to  sister 
Sally,  (fee. 

TO  MRS.  ANNE  S.  RICE. 

New  York,  June  I9th,  1827. 

My  Best  Beloved, 

I  received  your  last  letter  yesterday.  I  find  my  comfort 
to  depend  so  much  on  your  writing,  that  I  wish  there  were 
a  mail  every  day  for  you  to  let  me  hear  from  you.  I  wish 
too  that  you  could  see  how  I  am  employed,  even  if  I  could 
not  see  you.  The  sight  would  free  you  from  all  apprehen- 
sion, that  I  waste  any  time  reading  catalogues,  &c.  The 
fact  is,  I  have  not  seen  one  since  I  have  been  in  this  city, 
nor  spent  more  than  two  hours  in  a  bookstore — and  those 
two  when  1  could  do  nothing  in  our  great  cause.  The  work 
is  too  great — the  labour  is  too  severe  ;  and  there  is  too  much 
at  stake  for  me  to  think  of  any  thing  but  doing  what  must 
be  done,  and  getting  home  as  soon  as  possible.  But  the 
process  is  very  slow.  Yesterday  I  walked  about  ten  miles, 
and  among  all  the  calls  which  I  made  found  only  one  man  at 
home ;  and  he  insisted  that  I  should  give  him  time  to  make 
up  his  mind  on  the  subject.  I  went  home  with  feet  swelled, 
and  corns  aching ;  thinking  that  I  could  not  stir  this  morn- 
ing. But  Providence  is  gracious.  My  health  improves — 
and  I  find  that  I  can  do  more  by  one  half  in  a  day,  than 
when  I  first  began.  I  have  good  hope  that  success  will 
crown  these  painful  labours.  I  feel  pretty  confident  that  we 
shall  get  a  Professorship  here,  if  we  stick  to  the  work.  And 
by  the  help  of  God  I  will  not  let  it  go.  I  know  that  there 
are  people  enough  who  would  be  pleased  with  my  failure. 
But  it  is  little  that  I  care  for  them  except  to  pray  for  them. 
I  would  not  sufifer  as  some  people  do  through  the  force  of 
passion  and  prejudice^  for  all  the  wealth  of  the  world. 


DOCTOR    RICE.  321 

There  will  be  great  talk  of  my  influence,  when  fault  can 
be  found  with  me.  When  other  purposes  are  to  be  served, 
I  shall  be  undervalued.  But  as  far  as  regards  this  world, 
the  love  of  my  own  dear  family  is  all  that  my  heart  craves. 
As  for  those  out  of  the  domestic  circle,  I  want  influence,  I 
hope,  only  that  I  may  do  good. 

As  to  the  talk  about  Mr.  Roy,  I  have  asked  Mr.  James 
about  that  speech.  He  heard  it;  and  was  delighted  with  it. 
Mr.  Roy  gave  a  true  statement  of  the  religious  ignorance 
of  the  Southern  country ;  but  told  the  people  here  that  the 
Virginians  were  high-spirited,  open-hearted,  hospitable, 
generous,  &c.  &:c.;  and,  in  a  word,  men  of  such  caste,  that 
no  man  need  go  among  them,  and  hope  to  gain  their 
esteem,  or  do  them  good,  unless  he  was  a  gentleinan;  and 
that  preachers  of  a  higher  order  were  more  necessary  there 
than  in  any  other  part  of  the  country.  You  know  what  a 
jealous-spirited  Virginian  Mr.  James  is;  and  he  has  several 
times  mentioned  Mr.  Roy's  speech  with  the  highest  appro- 
bation. 

Tell  Mr.  Goodrich  that  I  feel  uneasy  lest  he  should  work 
too  hard.  He  must  hold  on  even  if  it  is  until  the  forty- 
eighth  day  of  June.  The  work  must  be  done  here;  and  he 
must  labour  according  to  his  strength,  until  God  shall  enable 
me  to  do  it. 

Mr.  Taylor  says,  he  will  set  to  work  to  get  some  tools 
for  the  benefit  of  our  Seminary.  And  he  says  that  the 
prospect  of  success  here  is  such,  that  my  wife  must  be  con- 
tent to  wait  until  I  can  accomplish  it.  Mr.  Mason  says  I 
must  give  his  love  to  you  and  Mr.  Goodrich,  and  say  *'  that 
I  am  doing  a  great  work,  and  cannot  come  down  until  it  is 
finished."  May  the  Lord  help  me  to  bear  the  pain  of  sepa- 
ration, and  the  labour  of  begging,  until  the  thing  is  done, 
for  his  glory,  and  the  good  of  the  Church. 

Give  my  love  to  the  young  men ;  and  tell  them  from  me, 
in  the  name  of  God,  that  the  salvation  of  souls  depends 
much  on  their  making  high  attainments  in  holiness,  and 


322  MEMOIR      OF 

entering  fully  into  the  meaning  of  God's  word.  I  see  con- 
tinually the  difference  in  this  city,  between  the  congrega- 
tions of  holy  and  devoted  ministers,  and  those  of  a  selfish, 
low,  and  worldly  character.  O  that  God  may  make  our 
students  holy  men. 

Give  my  love  to  all ;  to  servants,  relations,  friends ;  and 
believe  me  as  ever,  &;c. 

TO  MRS.  ANNE  S.  RICE. 

New  York,  June  22d,  1827. 
My  Beloved  Wife, 

I  am  stopped  in  my  course  this  morning  by  excessive 
rains,  and  I  use  the  opportunity  of  chatting  with  you.  I  am 
generally  so  worn  down  by  labour  day  after  day,  that  I  feel 
incapable  of  writing  any  thing  that  can  interest  my  friends. 
And  nothing  but  either  strong  affection,  or  a  sense  of  duty 
could  induce  me  to  take  up  my  pen.  But,  mingled  with 
the  pain  of  absence  (which,  by  the  way,  is  growing  more 
and  more  severe,)  there  is  so  much  pleasure  in  communi- 
cating with  you,  even  in  this  way,  that  I  cannot  help  writ- 
ing twice  a  week,  although  I  cannot  always  tell  you  pleasant 
things. 

The  Sunday-school  books  have  been  sent  long  enough  to 
be  in  Farmville  before  now,  if  they  had  a  good  conveyance 
from  Petersburg.  I  have  succeeded  not  only  in  getting  a 
Depository  of  Tracts  established  at  the  Seminary;  but  a 
Society  in  New  York  has  given  us  one  hundred  dollars,  to 
be  expended  in  Tracts  according  to  our  order;  and  we 
are  at  liberty  to  draw  for  that  amount,  as  Tracts  may  be 
needed. 

Mrs.  C has  set   to  work  to  raise  one  thousand 

dollars  for  the  Seminary,  which  I  think  she  will  give  her 
name  for,  the  next  time  I  see  her. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  T have  agreed  for  the  present  to  give 

one  thousand  dollars.  Eleven  men  have  each  engaged  to 
give  five  hundred  dollars — making  five  thousand  five  hun- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  323 

dred  dollars.  About  ten  have  promised  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  This  may  be  considered  as  the  amount  of  what 
has  been  positively  promised.  A  number  of  gentlemen  have 
the  subject  under  consideration ;  but  they  are  slow  in  coming 
to  a  determination.  I  cannot  but  hope,  however,  that  by 
the  close  of  next  week  I  shall  see  the  end  of  my  course,  and 
be  able  to  tell  whether  I  can  get  the  great  work  accomplished 
in  New  York.  I  shall  not  trouble  you  hereafter  with  any 
account  of  my  pains  and  labours.  The  service  is  certainly 
most  irksome  ;  but  I  am  guilty  in  feeling  so  much.  What 
is  this  to  be  endured  for  the  cause  of  Him  who  died  for  us  ? 
The  Apostle  Paul  would  have  thought  my  life  one  of  compa- 
rative ease,  honour,  and  tranquillity.  I  am  really  ashamed 
when  I  think  of  the  manner  in  which  my  heart  has  rebelled. 
I  hope  however  that  there  is  no  harm  in  loving  you,  and 
feeling  that  it  is  a  very  great  trial  to  be  separated  from  you. 
If  so,  I  am  an  offender  indeed  ! 

Iwish  you  to  tell  the  Union  Society,  that  I  will  do  the 
best  I  can  for  them ;  not  to  neglect  my  necessary  duties. 

1  have  not  yet  heard  the  result  of  Dr.  Woods'  application. 
I  am  anxious  about  that.  My  dearest,  pray  for  success. 
Let  all  in  the  Seminary  pray !  We  shall  fail  utterly  if  we 
fail  in  this  enterprise.  The  effort  will  in  this  case  do  harm 
rather  than  good. 

Tell  Mr.  G.  not  to  work  himself  down.  Let  all  be  of 
good  heart— let  all  make  it  their  chief  aim  to  be  holy.  The 
salvation  of  souls  depends  on  it. 

My  best  love  to  all.  Mention  me  especially  to  the  Major, 
sister,  students,  &;c. 

My  health  is  still  good,  &c. 


324  MEMOIR     OF 


TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

New  York,  June  22d,  1827. 
My  Dear  Brother, 

I  have  this  moment  received  your  affectionate  and  sooth- 
ing letter.  It  is  true  that  I  am  disappointed  in  the  report 
from  Mr.  *  *  ,  because  I  knew  that  he  felt  kindness  for  me, 
and  some  interest  in  our  Seminary  ;  and  I  did  hope  that  in 
the  present  emergency,  he  would  give  us  aid.  But  it  is  not 
for  me  to  say  that  he  can,  and  that  he  ought.  This  is  a  mat- 
ter between  him  and  his  Maker.  We  are  endeavouring  to 
do  something  in  New  York ;  but  it  is  heavy  work  here,  and 
I  know  not  how  we  shall  succeed.  But  will  not  the  Lord 
provide  ?  I  do  trust  in  him.  But  I  have  not  faith  as  I  ought. 
My  dear  brother,  pray  for  me — pray  without  ceasing. 

I  cannot  go  home  until  I  obtain  the  aid  that  we  need.  We 
must  have  about  thirty-five  thousand  dollars.  I  have  urged 
on  the  Southern  people  to  do  what  they  can;  and  have 
pledged  myself  that  I  would  get  help  from  our  Northern  and 
Eastern  men.  I  have  said  that  I  knew  they  would  help  us. 
And  our  Southern  subscriptions  are  all  on  the  contingency 
of  our  getting  enough  to  establish  the  Seminary.  And  I 
cannot  go  home  unless  I  redeem  my  pledge. 

I  write  in  very  great  haste,  now,  to  ask  you,  do  you  think 
that  I  had  better  adopt  the  measure  of  addressing  a  letter  to 
*  *  giving  a  full  statement  of  our  affairs  to  him  ?  Or  in 
what  way  shall  the  application  be  made  ?  I  shall  wait  your 
answer  before  I  do  any  thing.  I  hope  you  will  write  imme- 
diately. 

My  best  love  to  dear  Mrs.  Woods,  and  family. 
I  am,  with  most  fervent  love. 

Yours  as  ever. 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTORRICE.  325 

TO  MRS.  ANNE  S.  RICE. 

New-York,  July  2d,  1827. 
My  Dearest, 

I  have  neglected  writing  once  when  I  should  have  writ- 
ten, and  I  greatly  fear  that  you  will  be  anxious  about  me. 
I  was  so  worn  out  and  discouraged  that  I  could  not  write. 
For  a  week  past  I  have  found  a  very  serious  difficulty  in 
getting  on.  Indeed,  I  spent  several  days,  and  scarcely  receiv- 
ed subscriptions  to  the  amount  of  a  hundred  dollars.  On 
inquiry  I  found  that  some  men,  who  did  not  want  to  bestow 
their  money,  had  raised  an  objection  that  our  professorship 
was  placed  too  high.  This  seemed  like  ruin  to  our  whole 
plan.  I  was  alarmed,  and  feared  greatly  that  success  was 
gone.  The  difficulty  is  greatly  increased,  but  not  insur- 
mountable. The  machine  which  seemed  to  stick  fast,  is 
moving  again.  This  morning  I  turned  out,  and  found  a 
Hatter,  who,  with  the  spirit  of  a  prince,  put  down  $500.  I 
shortly  after  met  another  person,  (a  poor  man  who  lives  by 
his  daily  labour,)  in  the  street,  who  stopped  me,  and  put 
down  $100.     This  encouraged  my  spirits. 

I  am  yet  unable  to  see  how  long  it  will  take  me  to  get 
through.  I  am  just  now  resting  in  Mr.  Taylor's,  after 
walking  many  a  weary  step,  and  finding  no  person  in  that  I 
wanted  except  one  man,  who  said  he  could  not  help  us.  But 
my  health  keeps  up  wonderfully.  I  hope  to  be  pretty  well 
relieved  from  my  nervous  disorder  by  this  bodily  labour. 
The  heat  here  is  intense.  I  never  suffered  more  in  Virginia, 
Sometimes  I  feel  as  though  I  should  run  away  in  perspiration. 
I  have  just  received  your  precious  letter  of  June  27th. 
Mv  dearest,  how  much  I  thank  you  for  thus  refreshing  my 
heart,  by  your  regular  and  full  episdes.  I  thank  God  that 
he  makes  you  happy.  Every  time  I  hear  you  are  well  and 
comfortable,  I  feel  so  much  the  more  bound  to  the  cause  of 
that  gracious  Being  who  blesses  me  through  you  in  this 

way. 

29 


326  MEMOIR     Of 

I  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  servants  do  well.  I  rejoice  that 
the  students  have  a  right  spirit.  May  infinite  grace  be 
afforded  to  them.     O  !  may  they  be  holy,  efficient  ministers. 

I  have  no  time  now.  I  am  exceedingly  hurried  to  get 
this  hasty  note  to  the  post  office.  I  will  write  more  fully  in 
a  day  or  two. 

My  best  love  to  sister,  Major,  and  all  at  Willington,  all 
at  College,  Slc.  Slc. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Albany,  Aug.  I5th,  1827. 
My  Beloved  Christian  Brother, 

I  should  have  written  to  you  long  before  this  time,  but  I 
had  no  pleasant  account  to  give  of  our  progress.  I  have 
found  out  by  a  decisive  experiment,  that  it  is  impossible  for 
us  to  do  any  thing  effectual,  and  to  do  it  soon.  The  reason 
is  this.  The  people  have  had  various  objects  of  christian 
benevolence  before  them  now  for  several  years,  and  have 
been  for  some  time  in  the  habit  of  reserving  their  great 
efforts  for  certain  objects  in  relation  to  which  they  have  been 
accustomed  to  think  and  to  feel ;  such  as  the  Foreign  Mis- 
sion cause,  the  Bible  Society,  Slc.  But  as  for  new  objects, 
it  requires  time,  and  repeated  statements,  to  get  the  people 
to  appreciate  them.  It  would  be  easy  to  go  round  in  a  few 
days  and  get  them  to  contribute  two,  five,  or  ten  dollars,  as 
they  do  for  building  a  church,  or  finishing  a  steeple.  1  never 
could  have  believed,  until  I  made  the  trial  personally,  that 
people  who  have  understanding  enough  to  be  christians, 
should  be  so  slow  to  discriminate  between  things  so  widely 
diflferent  as  a  seminary  and  a  meeting  house;  or  so  hard  to 
feel  the  importance  of  an  object  which  stands  forth  in  con- 
nection with  the  salvation  of  millions.  But  it  is  even  so. 
And  sore  as  the  trial  is,  I  must  take  time,  or  do  nothing. 
The  people  must  be  waited  on  and  talked  to,  until  they  un- 
derstand the  subject,  and  a  current  of  feeling  is  excited  in 
favour  of  our  object.     There  is  no  other  way  for  it.     I  find. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  327 

too,  that  it  is  much  harder  to  excite  this  interest  for  a  South- 
ern object,  than  for  one  nearer  home.  This  accounts  for  the 
circumstance  of  our  being  so  long  round  about  this  region. 
It  accounts  too  for  our  not  having  gone  to  the  Springs,  as  we 
purposed  on  leaving  New  York.  There,  as  we  understood, 
were  beggars  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  picking  up  dol- 
lars, and  five  dollars,  from  such  men  as  they  could  catch. 
And  had  we  gone  thither,  we  should  have  done  every  thing 
to  disadvantage.  Men  would  have  been  found  under  influ- 
ences, and  in  circumstances,  entirely  adverse  to  any  great 
exercise  of  benevolence ;  and  they  would  generally  have 
bought  off  our  importunit}'  with  a  small  donation.  I  thought 
it  best,  then,  to  labour  here,  and  excite  a  permanent  interest 
rather  than  pursue  another  course.  We  cannot  tell  how 
much  can  be  procured  yet.  I  wish  to  get  six  thousand  dol- 
lars before  my  return  to  New  York,  so  as  to  leave  only  five 
thousand  to  be  raised  in  the  city,  in  addition  to  what  has 
already  been  done.  And  this  sum  I  hope  can  be  obtained 
without  difficulty.  Whether  I  shall  succeed  according  to  ex- 
pectation 1  do  not  yet  know;  a  few  days  now  will  deter- 
mine. Albany,  I  apprehend,  will  hardly  make  three  thou- 
sand dollars.  Troy,  Lansingburg,  &c.  have  not  yet  enabled 
us  to  judge  fairly  what  they  will  do.  But  I  hope  that  in  a 
week  from  this  we  may  turn  down  the  river.  My  object  has 
been  in  all  this  excursion,  so  to  raise  the  subscription  that 
there  shall  be  comparatively  a  trifle  to  do  when  we  return  to 
the  city.  But  it  is  much  harder  work  to  raise  money  here 
than  in  your  place.  And  I  feel  now,  after  all  that  has  been 
said  about  the  progress  of  religion,  that  the  church  is  very 
far  below  the  mark — more  behind  than  three  months  ago  I 
thought  it  to  be. 

Present  me  affectionately  to  all  friends. 

All  are  well  at  the  Seminary,  and  going  on  well. 
With  true  christian  affection, 

Your  brother,  John  H.  Rice, 


328  MEMOIR     OF 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Unio7i  Theological  Seminary,  Nov.  26th,  1827. 
My  Dear  Friend  and  Brother, 

I  received  your  kind  favour  by  our  last  mail.  I  should 
have  written  before,  but  sickness  prevented.  I  have  been 
severely  handled  by  influenza,  and  it  has  not  yet  left  me. 
In  truth  my  health  is  just  now  in  so  delicate  a  situation,  that 
I  can  not  determine  to  do  any  thing,  but  just  submit  to  the 
Lord's  will,  and  let  him  do  with  me  what  he  pleases.  In 
the  mean  while,  I  will  endeavour  to  make  the  reasons  con- 
tained in  your  letter,  and  in  those  of  my  other  friends,  a  sub- 
ject of  serious  examination  and  earnest  prayer;  that  I  may 
be  ready  as  soon  as  health  shall  permit,  to  go  any  way  the 
Lord  may  seem  to  point  out. 

There  is  great  force  in  your  suggestions.  I  will  weigh 
them  well ;  and  compare  them  with  all  the  reasons  urged  on 
the  other  side ;  and  as  soon  as  I  get  strength  I  will  write  to 
you  fully.  At  present  I  am  not  able  ;  fo'r  a  little  effort  gives 
me  a  head-ache  and  fever.  And  I  have  more  to  do  to-day 
than  I  am  able  to  go  through  with. 

We  are  going  on  with  increasing  prosperity.  There  are 
now  twenty  students  in  the  Seminary.  Two  more  are  expect- 
ed to  arrive  every  day,  and  others  after  a  while.  Our  influence 
is  extending.  We  have  got  full  hold  of  the  hearts  of  minis- 
ters in  the  Valley;  and  reach  into  the  state  of  South  Carolina. 
If  we  go  on  this  way,  the  Lord  will  get  to  himself  a  name, 
and  a  praise  in  this  Southern  region. 

Our  students  too  are  in  a  fine  spirit ;  they  are  growing  in 
holiness.     I  hope  a  revival  is  beginning  among  them. 

Our  Board  has  met  from  Virginia  and  North  Carolina.  It 
was  a  lovely  meeting.  Every  thing  as  kind  and  fraternal  as 
could  be  wished.  And  they  went  home  praying  for  us,  and 
feeling  more  than  ever. 

But  I  cannot  write  now.     I  just  send  you  this  from  my 


DOCTOR     RICE.  329 

easy  chair,  to  let  you  know  that  I  love  you,  and  yours,  and 
am  your  brother  in  Christ, 

J.  H.  Rice. 
Mention  me  to  Haines,  Wilbur,  James,  Roy,  and  all  the 
dear  people  by  name.     I  cannot  mention  more  now. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Baltimore,  January  17 th,  1828. 
My  Dear  Brother, 

I  intended  to  write  before.  But,  in  addition  to  other 
causes,  I  have  for  some  time  had  a  pain  in  my  breast  which 
makes  writing  very  irksome  to  me.  I  will  not,  however, 
waste  time  in  apologies. 

I  look  back  to  our  co-operation  in  obtaining  the  New 
York  Professorship,  with  peculiar  pleasure.  This  pleasure 
is  derived  from  two  sources.  First;  there  is  most  manifest 
evidence  of  the  presence  and  blessing  of  God  in  this  thing. 
Who  but  God  could  have  accomplished  a  work  of  this 
sort?  When  I  consider  the  strength  of  local  prejudices 
which  unhappily  prevail  in  our  country,  and  the  mighty 
current  of  feeling  which  had  long  been  running  in  favour 
of  other  objects;  and,  of  course,  the  difficulty  of  exciting 
an  interest  for  a  new  enterprise  of  magnitude,  I  do  not  see 
how  any  one  can  help  exclaiming,  "  See  what  God  hath 
wrought."  And  it  is  delightful  to  the  pious  mind  to  be 
engaged  in  a  work  which  is  clearly  GocVs.  To  him  be  all 
the  glory ! 

But  in  the  next  place ;  this  enterprise  has  offered  a  fine 
opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  Christian  friendship.  We 
who  have  been  engaged  in  it,  shall  love  one  another  the 
better,  as  long  as  we  live,  because  we  have  laboured 
together  in  this  work.  And  here  is  one  of  the  beauties  of 
the  christian  religion;  every  thing  else  may  occasion 
jealousies  and  rivalry.  And  indeed  religion  itself  often 
does  this,  when  the  heart  is  not  singly  fixed  on  the  glory  of 
God,  and  the  good  of  his  Church.  But  when  once  the 
29- 


H30  MEMOIR      OF 

heart  is  right,  how  delightfully  do  Christians  co-operate! 
Their  aim  and  object  being  one,  and  that  too  of  the  highest 
benevolence,  they  cannot  make  an  effort,  without  a  kindling 
up  of  love.  And  when  the  heart  is  filled  with  pure,  fer- 
vent, fraternal  love,  there  is  a  taste  of  heaven  on  earth. 
Yes,  my  brother,  we  shall  look  back  with  pleasure  on  the 
days  in  which  we  laboured  together  in  this  field  of  God's 
harvest.  And  I  do  trust,  that  in  succeeding  years,  we  shall 
rejoice  in  the  fruits  of  our  labours.  When  you  become  an 
old,  gray -headed  elder,  and  meet  in  the  General  Assembly 
the  men  who  received  their  education  at  our  Seminary,  and 
hear  them  magnify  the  word  of  God,  and  see  that  they  are 
sound,  faithful  Bible  preachers,  you  will  rejoice  and  bless 
God  for  what  you  see  and  hear.  I  trust  that  much  such 
pleasure  is  in  reserve  for  you,  and  those  who  with  you 
took  hold  of  this  enterprise. 

But  it  is  time  to  tell  you  about  Philadelphia.  I  staid  there 
until  I  obtained  about  six  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  I 
thought  that  as  matters  were  situated,  Roy  could  finish  the 

rest.  Some  men  were  very  liberal.    Mr.  R gave  $1000, 

J.  H $1000,  T.  E ilOOO,  A.  H $500,  S. 

W and  A.  W^ $500  each,  J.  M $300.     But 

after  that  we  had  hard  pulling.  The  Seminary  at  Pittsburg 
works  against  us.  Many  hold  back  because  Dr.  Heron  is 
coming  on  in  the  spring.  Some  too,  are  not  as  fully  cordial  as  I 
could  wish,  because  they  know  that  I  will  not  be  a  partizan. 
One  excellent  brother  told  me  that  he  suspected  me  for  being 
too  much  of  a  Yankee.  But  I  will  not  turn  from  my  course  for 
any  suspicions.  I  will  acknowledge  as  brethren  those  who  love 
the  Lord  Jesus,  of  all  parties,  and  1  will  co-operate  zeal- 
ously and  heartily  ivith  any  who  aim  to  promote  the  truth  as 
it  is  in  Jesus.  Our  Seminary  shall  be  based  on  the  Bible; 
and  we  will  know  no  isms  there  but  Bibleism.  I  am  sure 
that  the  Bible  will  afford  good  support  to  sound  Presbyteri- 
anism,  and  if  it  will  not,  why  let  Presbyterianism  go. 

I  arrived  in  Baltimore  Tuesday  morning.     I  cannot  yet 


DOCTOR      RICE.  331 

see  what  our  prospect  is.  But  there  does  not  seem  to  be 
ground  for  much  hope.  I  will  let  you  hear  again.  Give  my 
love  to  your  family,  and  to  brethren  generally.  The  Lord 
bless  you  my  brother. 

Truly  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  SAMUEL  GRAHAM. 

Union  Seminary,  Feb.  Sth,  1828. 
My  Brother  Graham, 

I  feel  that  I  owe  you  an  account  of  my  late  movements  ; 
and  as  Mr.  Bigelovv  will  pass  through  Granville,  I  take  this 
opportunity  of  writing. 

After  the  Board  had  adjourned  in  November,  I  received 
several  letters  which  brought  me  into  greater  perplexity  than 
I  ever  remember  to  have  experienced.  My  own  wishes 
coincided  with  the  opinion  of  the  Board,  that  I  ought  to  go 
South.  But  letter  after  letter  came  from  the  North  urging 
me  to  return.  A  mere  opinion  of  any  man  on  this  subject 
would  have  weighed  nothing  with  me.  The  case  however 
was  this.  The  very  gentlemen  who  had  pledged  themselves 
to  make  good  any  deficiency  which  might  occur  in  the  New 
York  Professorhip,  were  the  persons  who  urged  my  return. 
They  made  the  pledge  on  condition  that  the  best  possible 
measures  should  be  employed  to  make  up  the  deficiency ; 
and  should  there  be  any  failure,  then  they  would  come  for- 
ward and  do  their  part.  Now  I  did  not  see  how  I  could  ever 
go  to  them,  and  ask  them  to  fulfil  their  engagements,  when 
they  might  turn  and  say,  "  If  you  had  taken  our  advice  such 
deficiency  would  not  have  occurred ;  and  it  is  unreasonable 
for  you  to  expect  us  to  redeem  our  pledge  when  you  did  not 
fulfil  the  conditions  on  which  it  was  made."  I  really  could 
not  see  how  I  could  get  over  this  difficulty.  In  the  next 
place,  it  was  apparent  that  this  was  the  only  time  in  which 
we  could  hope  for  any  thing  from  Philadelphia.  I  learned 
that  all  the  arrangements  were  made  for  the  two  most  popu- 


332  MEMOIR     OF 

lar  men  in  the  West  of  Pennsylvania,  Drs.  Heron  and  Jen- 
nings, to  come  to  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  early  in  the 
spring,  and  do  their  very  best  to  scrape  those  two  cities  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Pittsburg  Seminary.  And  if  we  had  not 
made  our  application  at  the  time  it  was  made,  we  should  have 
obtained  nothing.  But  my  brother  and  Mr.  Kollock  both 
declined  this  service  until  the  spring.  It  would  then  have 
been  too  late.  Besides,  it  was  represented  to  me  that  I  must 
go  to  Philadelphia,  or  nothing  would  be  accomplished. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  embarrassments  and  perplexities, 
I  wrote  to  such  members  of  the  Board  as  by  any  possibility 
I  could  hear  from,  and  laid  the  case  before  them  for  advice. 
They  who  could  for  the  time  answer  my  letters,  advised  me 
to  go  to  the  North.     Contrary,  therefore,  to  my  wishes  and 
feelings ;  but  in  conformity  to  my  conscience,  and  the  ad- 
vice of  those  with  whom  it  was  in  my  power  to  communi- 
cate, I  went  to  the  North.     I  hope  that  this  will  meet  the 
approbation  of  the  Board.     If  not,  I  shall  regret  it ;  but  I 
shall  feel  that  I  acted  conscientiously.     The  result  of  my 
journey  was  in  filling  up  the  New  York  Professorship  ;  the 
starting  of  a  subscription  in  Philadelphia,  which  amounted, 
when  I  left,  to  sixty-four  or  five  hundred  dollars ;  and  the 
starting  of  a  subscription  in  Baltimore,  which  amounted  to 
nearly  two  thousand  dollars.     The  result  of  the  whole  mis- 
sion will  be  somewhere  between  thirty-five  thousand  and 
forty  thousand  dollars.     I  feel  that  it  is  God  who  has  thus 
prospered  this  work,  and  I  hope  that  he  will  receive  all  the 
praise.     I  do  not  know  what  would  have  been  the  result  if 
I  had  gone  to  Charleston.     My  heart  was  there  all  the  time; 
but  I  have  some  reason  to  believe  that  our  Southern  brethren 
have  become  so  excited  on  this  subject,  that  they  will  make 
their  experiment  before  they  can  be  convinced. 

Mr.  Roy  was  left  by  me  in  Philadelphia,  endeavouring  to 
fill  up  the  subscription  in  that  city  to  ten  thousand  dollars. 
He  would  then  come  on  and  try  the  liberality  of  Wilming- 
ton.    Then  see  what  farther  could  be  done  in  Baltimore. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  333 

Perhaps  make  a  little  trial  at  Washington ;  and  then  enter 
Virginia.     1  hope  he  will  be  here  in  two  or  three  weeks. 

We  are  exceedingly  pleased  with  the  North  Carolina  stu- 
dents. One  of  them  (  *  *  )  seems  unable  to  keep  up 
with  his  class.  The  rest  are  really  very  fine  fellows.  1 
think,  too,  there  is  a  manifest  growth  of  holiness  in  the  In- 
stitution. 

Remember  us  in  your  prayers.  Let  all  pray  that  we  may 
be  very  holy  men.  We  unite  here  in  fraternal  regards  to 
you. 

Yours  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Union  Seminary,  Feb.  9//i,  1828. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  am  safe  at  home,  in  pretty  good  health,  and  found  all 
well. 

Had  I  passed  through  Princeton  in  returning  from  New 
York  as  1  intended,  there  is  one  subject  on  Avhich  I  could 
have  wished  to  converse  with  you  and  Dr.  Miller. 

Some  of  my  old  Richmond  friends  have  removed  to  Flo- 
rida, among  them  J and  R G ,  and  J 

P— .     J G and  P are  members  of 

the  church ;  they  are  both  intelligent,  public-spirited  men, 

concerned  for  the  interests  of  education  and  religion.  G , 

who  is  the  best  acquainted  with  the  country  of  any  of  them, 
says,  that  by  proper  management  the  direction  of  the  literary 
and  religious  interests  of  that  territory  may  be  in  the  hands 
of  Presbyterians.  There  is  an  appropriation  of  land  for  a 
University  there,  or  for  a  literary  fund,  worth  two  millions 
of  dollars.  If  some  men  of  intelligence  and  piety  do  not  get 
the  management,  it  will  be  fooled  away,  or  worse.  He 
therefore  earnestly  entreats  that  some  one  or  two  young 
clergymen  of  high  talents  and  attainments,  of  enlarged  views, 
and  active  zeal,  should  at  once  be  sent  out  to  him.     They 


334  MEMOIR    OF 

must  be  adventurous  men,  who  for  the  aocomplishment  of  a 
great  good,  would  be  willing  to  run  some  risk.  But  the 
prospect  of  success  is  such  as  to  encourage  the  attempt,  and 
fully  to  justify  it.  He  advises  that  one  should  look  at  the 
map  of  Florida,  and  see  what  a  range  of  influence  might  be 
established  if  the  enterprise  should  succeed.  A  seminary 
of  learning  of  high  character,  would  draw  multitudes  from 
the  West  India  Islands,  especially  from  Cuba,  which  is  to  be 
a  great  country.  It  would  also  have  connexion  with  Mexi- 
co, and  all  the  Spanish  part  of  North  America.  In  progress 
of  time,  a  Seminary  might  be  got  up  there,  to  prepare  Mis- 
sionaries for  the  new  Southern  Republics.  In  a  word,  he 
says,  that  the  opportunity  is  one  of  the  fairest  in  the  world 
for  extensive  good,  and  that  it  may  be  now  seized  and  em- 
ployed by  the  Presbyterians,  if  they  will. 

He  prays,  therefore,  that  at  least  one  good  man  may  be 
sent.  We  have  nobody  to  send.  The  country  around  us 
will  absorb  all  that  we  can  raise  for  many  years.  I  hope, 
then,  that  in  your  large  number,  you  can  find  some  to  whom 

you  can  commit  the  execution  of  this  project.     G 

says  the  health  of  the  climate  is  far  before  South  Carolina  or 
Georgia.  Where  he  lives  the  face  of  the  country  is  much 
like  Albemarle,  or  the  middle  region  of  Virginia. 

Mrs.  Rice  unites  with  me  in  most  affectionate  regards  to 
you,  Mrs.  A.,  and  all  the  family. 

Truly  yours, 

Jno.  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  JANE  I.  WHITE. 

Union  Theological  Seminary,  Feb.  ISth,  1828, 
My  Dear  Jane, 

I  have  a  thousand  times  purposed  to  write  to  you,  since 
your  marriage ;  but  have  never  yet  seen  the  time  when  I 
could  fulfil  my  intentions.  It  was  needless  for  me  just  to 
drop  you  a  line  assuring  you  of  my  love ;  for  of  this  you 
know  you  have  a  large  share.    I  wished  to  write  something 


DOCTOR    RICE.  335 

that  might  be  profitable  to  you  in  the  very  important  rela- 
tion which  you  now  sustain.  But  delay  never  makes  any 
thing  easier;  and,  at  present,  I  can  only  send  you  a  hasty 
scratch  instead  of  a  letter. 

I  regard  you  and  Mr.  White  with  peculiar  interest.  You 
are  one  of  my  children,  and  he  one  of  my  students,  and  I 
cannot  but  wish  that  you  both  may  be  very  happy ,  and  very 
usejul. 

The  first  step  in  the  accomplishment  of  these  wishes  is, 
that  you  should  be  very  holy.  The  former  is  impossible 
without  the  latter.  But  according  to  the  appointment  of 
God,  it  is  impossible  to  be  very  holy  without  the  diligent 
use  of  the  means  appointed  by  the  source  of  all  holiness. 
Reliance  on  grace  without  employing  means,  is  presump- 
tion ;  with  them,  it  is  faith.  I  cannot,  however,  enlarge  on 
this  subject;  for  it  is  not  my  intention  to  give  you  a  sermon 
instead  of  a  letter. 

I  am  a  minister,  and  have  had  a  wife  a  long  time.  I  feel, 
therefore,  as  though  I  could  give  some  advice  worthy  of 
your  attention  as  the  wife  of  a  preacher.  Hear  me,  then, 
my  daughter,  and  consider  what  I  say  as  a  token  of  parental 
affection.  I  have  no  object  in  view  but  your  happiness  and 
usefulness. 

1.  The  life  of  a  minister  is  the  life  of  a  student.  His 
labours  are  the  labours  of  a  student.  Now,  nothing  so  ex- 
hausts the  spirits  of  man,  or  is  so  apt  to  produce  des- 
pondency, as  this  manner  of  living.  And  it  is  in  the  highest 
degree  important,  that  he  should  have  a  companion  blessed 
with  a  strong  flow  of  cheerfulness,  mingled  with  piety,  to 
keep  him  up,  or  raise  his  mind  when  it  is  flagging  or  des- 
pondent. I  could,  therefore,  most  earnestly  recommend  to 
you  the  cultivation  of  a  cheerful  spirit.  It  is  your  part 
never  to  despond ;  but  to  keep  your  mind  buoyant  and  alert, 
always  relying  on  a  gracious  Providence,  and  cherishing  a 
good  hope  of  the  success  of  the  cause  of  Christ. 

2.  A  minister  has  often  to  deal  with  much  waywardness, 


336  MEMOIR     OF 

and  encounter  much  opposition.  And  it  is  hard  for  him  not 
to  contract,  in  these  circumstances,  some  sourness  or  severity 
of  temper.  Yet  nothing  can  win  its  way  to  the  heart,  and 
subdue  it,  hut  love ;  and  it  is  your  business  continually  to 
pour  this  softening  influence  into  the  heart  of  your  husband, 
and  make  him  as  kind  and  tender  as  a  woman's  when  sub- 
dued by  divine  grace.  It  will  be  very  much,  then,  for  the 
good  of  your  husband,  as  well  as  for  your  own  happiness,  to 
cultivate  a  very  affectionate,  conciliating,  winning  temper  and 
manner — carefully  avoiding  all  censoriousness,  suspicion, 
and  uncharitable  judging  of  others. 

3.  Many  ministers'  wives  destroy  their  influence  entirely 
by  seeming  to  think  that  they  have  also  a  sort  of  official  cha- 
racter, which  gives  them  authority  to  dictate,  prescribe,  re- 
commendj  or  oppose  measures  to  be  adopted  in  the  congrega- 
tion. The  opposite  course  of  conduct  to  this,  is  that  of 
meek,  gentle,  and  affectionate  insinuation. 

4.  Many  an  hour  of  precious  time  is  lost  by  the  minister 
from  his  study  and  his  closet,  in  consequence  of  the  wife  re- 
quiring the  husband  to  pay  attention  to  her;  talk  small  talk, 
or  listen  to  it.  But  a  minister's  wife  ought  to  remember  that 
she  is,  in  a  certain  sense,  identified  with  her  husband,  and 
that  a  great  deal  of  the  respect  and  attention  she  desires  to 
have,  depends  on  its  being  thought  that  her  husband  is  a  grow- 
ing man.  She  ought  therefore  to  aid  him  in  study  for  her 
own  sake,  as  well  as  from  motives  of  a  higher  and  purer 
character. 

5.  If  a  woman  is  prudent,  judicious,  and  refined  in  her 
taste,  yet  gentle  and  meek,  she  will  do  more  than  any  other 
person  can  do,  to  correct  bad  habits  of  a  certain  kind,  or 
to  prevent  their  being  formed.  Thus  she  may  correct  strik- 
ing and  ofl^ensive  mannerisms,  or  improprieties  in  word  or 
gesture ;  tediousness  in  prayer,  or  in  preaching,  &c.  I  have 
often  heard  it  asked  of  a  preacher's  wife — *'  why  don't  she 
tell  her  husband  about  his  long  prayers  ?"  And  the  remark 
has  been  made  many  a  time — "  that  woman  can't  be  much, 


DOCTOR     RICE.  337 

or  her  husband  would  not  have  such  rough  and  uncouth 
manners." 

I  would  say  much  more,  but  time  and  paper  would  fail. 
I  do  not  say  these  things  because  I  suppose  you  particularly 
need  them ;  but  because  I  wanted  to  give  you  some  token  of 
fatherly  affection.  And  I  add  as  a  final  remark,  that  a  heart 
entirely  filled  with  the  love  of  God,  and  into  which  the  Spi- 
rit is  fully  breathed,  will  teach  you  better  than  any  thing  else  ; 
because  you  will  then,  in  every  case,  feel  how  you  ought  to 
act. 

Mrs.  Rice  loves  you  as  I  do ;  and  I  know  she  joins  in  the 
earnest  prayer  that  in  your  present  relation  you  may  fully 
discharge  every  duty,  be  a  blessing  to  your  husband,  and  a 
faithful  servant'of  the  Lord. 

Bless  you,  my  daughter. 

Yours  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Union  Seminary,  March  4th,  1828. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  kind  and  prompt 
attention  to  the  case  of  my  friends  in  Florida ;  and  I  hope 
that  I  have  a  heart  to  rejoice  in  the  prospect  of  good  to  be 
done  in  that  desolate  region.  I  am  delighted  with  the  ac- 
count which  you  give  of  Mr.  Cox.  As  far  as  I  can  see,  he 
is  just  the  very  man  for  the  place.     I  write  by  this  mail  to 

Col.  G ,  and  shall  direct  him  forthwith  to  communicate 

with  you  on  this  subject,  and  point  out  the  way  by  which 
Mr.  C.  may  get  to  this  theatre  of  labour.  The  gentlemen, 
I  have  no  doubt,  will  be  liberal.  Whether  it  will  be  best  to 
get  aid  from  the  Home  Missionary  Society  for  the  present, 
will  depend  on  circumstances  yet  to  be  learned.  If  Mr.  C. 
should  be  unwilling  to  hold  himself  in  suspense  long  enough 

for  G to  receive  my  letter,  and  send  one  to  Princeton,  I 

30 


338  MEMOIR     OF 

should  suppose  he  had  better  go  with  the  aid  of  the  society; 
but  if  he  is  willing  to  wait,  he  had  better  wait  as  I  think. 
We  hear  that  Finney  is  making  a  noise  in  Philadelphia. 

He  has  certainly  got  G and  D fully  with  him,  and 

Mrs.  G is  beyond  any  of  them.     From  what  I  hear,  I 

should  suppose  that  there  is  a  deep-laid  scheme  to  get  sup- 
port for  what  are  called  "  the  new  measures."  Mr.  Nettle- 
ton  thinks  that  the  great  object  is  to  get  influence  among  the 
excitable  and  enthusiastic  part  of  the  community;  and  that 
there  is  a  determination  to  revolutionize  the  churches,  and 
make  what  are  called  Evangelists  superior  to  settled  Pastors. 
From  his  account,  there  is  a  stress  laid  on  employing  females 
in  conducting  worship;  and  on  mentioning  names  in  prayer, 
which  appears  to  me  truly  surprising.  And  he  seems  to  be 
fully  persuaded  that  without  some  vigorous  measures  on  the 
part  of  the  friends  of  order,  the  credit  and  usefulness  of  revi- 
vals in  religion  will  be  completely  ruined  for  the  time  in  this 
country.  He  affirms  that  wherever  these  measures  have 
been  tiied,  they  have  run  down  any  revival  that  may  have 
occurred,  have  divided  the  church,  and  put  the  judgment  and 
feelings  of  all  that  have  not  been  brought  in,  utterly  against 
religion.  From  the  little  that  I  saw,  I  would  say  tliat  if 
good  is  done  by  these  irregular  means,  it  is  done  at  a  fright- 
ful expense.  It  is  like  slaying  hundreds  to  save  one.  It  is 
(Supposed,  too,  that  there  is  a  strong  desire  to  set  the  students 
of  our  seminaries  agog  in  this  new  plan.  A  mighty  effort 
was  made  at  Auburn,  and  some  at  least  were  caught  in  the 
trap  laid  for  them.  Philadelphia  is  so  near  tu  Princeton, 
that  if  a  mighty  agitation  were  to  take  place  in  that  city,  it 
would  be  felt  in  your  village,  and  perhaps  the  unstable  in  the 
seminary  might  be  led  away.  It  is  proposed  in  view  of  all 
these  matters,  that  there  should  be  a  meeting  about  the  last 
of  the  first  week  in  May,  in  New  York,  of  those  who  are 
most  concerned  in  this  matter,  professors  in  seminaries  end 
heads  of  colleges,  to  consult  as  to  the  interests  of  these  insti- 
tutions, and  the  important  matters  connected  with  them,  and 


DOCTOR    HICE.  339 

see  if  nothing  can  be  done  to  keep  out  extravagance,  and 
prevent  the  gross  animal  feeling  which  is  raised  by  these 
measures.  I  should  like  to  know  what  your  opinion  is  as  to 
a  measure  of  this  kind ;  and  I  should  like  to  know  very  soon. 

Mr.  Douglas  is  doing  most  excellently  at  Briery.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  efficient  ministers  in  the  two  states.  He  is 
powerful— persevering — decided.  They  have  encouraging 
times  in  Richmond. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  me  in  love  to  Mrs.  Alexander  and  the 
children,  as  well  as  yourself. 

Most  truly  yours. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

Union  Tlieological  Seminary,  March  I2th,  1828. 

My  Beloved  Brother, 

It  is  long  since  we  communed  together.  Yet  my  heart 
has  yearned  after  you,  and  I  have  often  wished  much,  very 
much,  to  see  you,  and  hold  sweet  counsel  with  you  as  in 
former  times.  But  1  have  had  a  burden  on  me  too  heavy 
to  be  borne,  and  have  been  obliged  to  confine  my  attention 
to  business,  to  the  neglect  of  ofiices  of  friendship. 

But  the  other  day,  I  accidentally  saw  a  notice  in  a  news- 
paper which  went  to  my  heart.  I  saw  that  you  had  been 
afflicted,  deeply  afflicted;  for  it  was  there  reported,  that 
God  had  been  pleased  to  take  a  son  from  you.  Is  it  so? 
I  can  see  no  reason  to  doubt  it;  for  why  should  report  on 
this  subject  be  falsified?  And,  I  have  felt,  ever  since  I  saw 
the  notice,  that  I  ought  to  share  with  you  in  all  your  afflic- 
tions. It  is  the  only  way  in  which  I  can  bear  your  bur- 
dens. I  trust  that  you  have  found  all  God's  precious  pro- 
mises verified  to  you  in  this  trial.  O !  may  the  good  Lord 
bless  you,  and  your  family— especially  the  mother  of  your 
children,  with  his  presence,  while  he  lays  his  rod  on  you.  I 
have  thought,  considering  how  much  affliction  there  is  mthe 


340  MEMOIR     OF 

world,  that  it  would  be  worth  while  to  do  a  thousand  times 
more  than  ever  has  been  done  to  spread  the  Bible,  if  it  had 
nothing  in  it  but  the  12th  chapter  of  Hebrews.  *'  Whom 
the  Lord  loveth,  he  chasteneth."  It  tells  us  how  we  are  to 
understand  affliction,  and  what  use  we  are  to  make  of  it.  But 
I  feel  that  you  know  all  this.  I  only  add,  then,  that  Mrs. 
Rice  and  1  do  most  affectionately  sympathize  with  you ; 
and  pray  that  you  may  be  supported  by  Him  who  alone  can 
help  in  time  of  need. 

It  has  pleased  a  gracious  Providence,  by  means  of  my 
travelling  last  summer,  greatly  to  improve  my  health. 
But  yet  I  feel  myself  constantly  exposed  to  danger,  be- 
cause I  have  yet  daily  to  do  tJie  work  of  two  men ;  and  as 
I  advance  in  life,  I  feel  that  to  be  burdensome,  which  once 
I  did  not  regard.  I  perhaps  am  too  anxious  to  live  until 
this  Institution  shall  be  fully  established  on  a  firm  founda- 
tion, and  acquire  a  settled  and  stable  character,  which  it 
will  retain  for  ages  to  come.  I  regard  this  as  a  matter  of 
extreme  importance,  on  many  accounts.  It  is,  for  instance, 
unspeakably  important  that  a  sound  orthodoxy  should  pre- 
vail here,  without  any  cramping  irons  or  hoops  about  it. 
And  I  do  not  see  any  prospect  of  this  except  in  our  suc- 
cess. It  is  necessary  for  the  good  of  the  Church,  that  we 
should  have  an  Institution  fully  endowed,  which  will  main- 
tain a  high  standard  of  ministerial  qualifications;  and  yet 
hold  learning  for  nothing  without  fervent  piety.  But  there 
is  a  strong  inclination  to  hurry  men  into  the  ministry 
before  they  are  half  ready,  in  the  Southern  and  Western 
country.  And  a  check  to  this  haste  is  indispensably  neces- 
sary. We  are  in  this  country  peculiarly  exposed  to  the  ex- 
tremes of  infidelity  and  fanaticism,  and  sound  expositors  of 
the  Bible  furnish  the  only  efficient  check  to  these  evils. 
The  state  of  things  in  some  parts  of  New  York  alarms  me 
much.  I  do  not  see  how,  from  the  character  of  the  popu- 
lation, Presbyterianism  can  apply  its  provisions  fully  there. 
Yet  the  people  generally  have  had  such  opportunities  of 


DOCTOR     RICE.  341 

knowing  the  truth,  that  one  might  think  they  would  keep 
clear  of  excesses  in  religion,  if  any  people  would.  Yet 
there,  among  the  descendants  of  old  Presbyterians  and  Pil- 
grims, there  are  "  new  measures"  which  must  be  checked, 
or  the  credit  of  revivals  will  be  run  down,  and  the  Church 
will  present  the  appearance  of  a  forest,  in  Avhich  every  tree 
is  blackened,  and  every  green  leaf  scorched,  and  every 
flower  withered.  If  a  powerful  excitement  should  pervade 
our  region,  no  man  could  conjecture  what  would  be  the 
result.  In  view  of  these  things,  and  a  thousand  more, 
which  I  could  name,  I  am  delighted  with  the  prospect  of  a 
correspondence  between  all  the  important  Seminaries  in 
the  country.  I  do  hope  that  it  will  be  productive  of  great 
good.  I  wish  that  the  heads  of  these  Institutions  could 
meet  in  New  York  about  the  7th  or  8th  of  May,  and  confer 
together,  fully  and  freely,  on  important  interests. 

It  seems  to  me,  that  it  is  needful  for  the  wise  men  in  the 
Church,  to  agree  together  on  some  clear  and  broad  general 
principles,  respecting  the  qualifications  and  proper  office  of 
Evangelists.  They  may  proceed  in  such  a  way  as  to  gain  the 
upper  hand  of  settled  Pastors,  and  even  control  Presbyteries 
and  Associations.  And  if  they  may  take  hold  of  the  vanity 
and  enthusiasm  of  men  and  women,  to  gain  popularity 
and  exert  influence;  then  farewell  to  every  thing  in  reli- 
gion that  graces  human  society,  and  blesses  domestic 
life.  Even  prayer  will  become  the  vehicle  of  scandal  and 
calumny. 

What  do  you  think  of  making  arrangements,  to  get  Drs. 
Alexander,  Richards,  Woods,  Rice,  with  several  of  our  most 
valuable  heads  of  Colleges  to  meet  in  New  York,  early  in 
May,  say  on  the  first  day  of  the  Anniversaries,  to  talk 
seriously  about  these  matters  ?     Pray  let  me  know. 

I  shall  hope  to  see  you  at  New  York,  or  Andover,  or  at 
both  places  in  May. 

Mrs.  Rice  just    came   in,  and    on   learning  that  I  was 
writing  to  you,  she  exclaimed;  "  O !  I  feel  as  if  my  heart 
30* 


342  MEMOIR      OF 

ought  to  go  with  that  letter."     It  does — and  so  does  mine. 
Our  love  to  all. 

Dear  brother,  may  heaven  bless  you  ! 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Union  Seminary,  March  ISth,  1828. 
My  Dear  Brother, 

I  arrived  in  safety  at  home  on  the  first  day  of  February — 
and  found  all  well  in  the  family  and  the  Seminary.  But  I 
found  I  had  then  the  labours  of  six  months  duty  of  two  pro- 
fessors, to  be  performed  in  three  months.  The  pressure  on 
me  has  been  so  great,  that  my  health  has  already  sensibly 
failed  for  want  of  exercise.  And  as  usual  I  have  not  let  my 
friends  hear  from  me  as  I  wished.  It  was  because  I  could 
not. 

I  received  a  letter  yesterday  from  Mr.  Roy,  the  first  time 
I  have  heard  from  him  since  I  came  home.  He  is  riding  in 
the  valley  of  Virginia,  trying  to  get  up  subscriptions  there. 
The  fact  is  we  are  getting  greatly  crowded  for  want  of  room, 
and  the  place  is  too  straight  for  us  to  dwell  in.  We  hope 
in  Virginia  to  increase  our  subscriptions,  so  that  we  shall  be 
able  to  erect  new  buildings  in  the  course  of  the  summer. 

I  am  much  delighted  with  the  present  state  of  the  Semi- 
nary. The  improvement  is  very  manifest  in  knowledge  and 
piety.  God  be  thanked  for  his  mercies  !  I  do  not  know  of 
a  more  promising  set  of  young  men  than  we  have  now. 
And  the  few  who  have  turned  out  are  really  fell  in  the  re- 
gion where  they  have  been  sent. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

Give  my  love  to  all  in  your  house.  Mrs.  Rice  and  Mr. 
Goodrich  unite  with  me.  Dear  Brother  in  Christ,  may  your 
soul  prosper,  and  your  body  be  in  health. 

Most  truly  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  343 


TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER^  D.  D. 

Unimi  Theological  Seminary,  July  II th,  1828. 

Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

I  have  so  much  to  say  to  you,  that  I  am  afraid  to  begin,  on 
the  subject  of  my  passing  througli  Princeton,  without  call- 
ing, on  my  return  to  Virginia.  It  was  a  very  painful  affair 
to  me.  But  the  case  was  this  :  I  wanted  to  attend  the  meet- 
ing of  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions,  which  was 
held  in  June.  I  arrived  in  New  York  about  10  o'clock  on 
Wednesday.  The  meeting  was  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia^ 
at  3  o'clock  on  Thursday.  I  had  several  hours  business  to 
detain  me,  and  could  not  leave  New  York  until  the  3  o'clock 
boat.  This  enabled  me  to  get  to  Trenton  about  1  o'clock  at 
night.  It  was  eleven  when  we  passed  by  your  house.  I  could 
only,  as  I  went,  offer  a  silent  prayer  that  God  might  bless 
you  and  all  yours — and  this  I  did  with  all  the  sincerity  of 
old  unchanged  friendship. 

I  have  no  doubt  you  have  heard  of  the  excitement,  I  think 
I  may  say  revival  of  religion,  in  Prince  Edward.  It  was 
prepared  for  by  previous  labours.  Much  that  our  valued  old 
friend,  Mr.  Lyle,  did  in  the  way  of  sowing  seed,  is  now 
springing  up,  and  producing  a  glorious  harvest.  Douglass 
has  the  grace  to  acknowledge  this.  Other  things  paved  the 
way.  When  Mr.  Nettleton  had  strength  to  labour,  he  soon 
was  made  instrumental  in  producing  a  considerable  excite- 
ment. This  has  extended  ;  and  now  the  state  of  things  is 
deeply  interesting.  Five  lawyers,  all  men  of  very  consider- 
able   standing,   have    embraced  religion.      H.  E.    W , 

S.  A ,  N.  P ,  M.  P ,  and  P.  H .     This 

has  produced  a  mighty  sensation  in  Charlotte,  Mecklenburg, 
Nottoway,  Cumberland,  Powhatan,  Buckingham,  and  Albe- 
marle. The  minds  of  men  seem  to  stand  a  tiptoe,  and  they 
seem  to  be  looking  for  some  great  thing.     I  do  fear  that,  un- 


344  MEMOIR     OF 

der  the  influence  of  men  of  other  denominations,  there  will 
be  a  wildfire  kindled  in  this  region,  and  every  thing  will  be 
seared,  and  withered  by  the  fierceness  of  the  blast.  This, 
then,  would  put  every  thing  back  for  another  generation.  I 
saw  in  Troy  and  Utica,  how  the  raging  flame  had  passed 
through  the  garden  of  the  Lord,  and  every  thing  looked 
black  and  desolate.  But  what  can  we  do  to  prevent  this 
evil  ?  We  have  no  men.  And  in  this  case  of  necessity,  as 
usual,  I  turn  to  you  for  aid  and  counsel.  Is  there  no  possi- 
bility of  getting  three  or  four  sterling  young  men  to  come  on 
to  this  middle  region  at  the  present  time  ?  Can  we  not  get 
Kirk,  Young,  and  some  others  of  the  same  spirit  ?  I  have 
sent  a  letter  to  Kirk  to  Princeton,  and  will  thank  my  friend 
William  to  give  it  the  proper  direction,  if  any  of  you  know 
where  he  is  now  located.  I  really  do  not  think  that  in  this 
middle  region  there  is  any  danger  of  bilious  fevers,  except 
in  particular  localities.  Thus  along  through  Prince  Edward, 
and  Buckingham,  and  on  the  north  side  of  James  River, 
among  the  hills  of  Albemarle,  I  am  sure  that  there  is  less  dan- 
ger than  in  many  parts  of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  work  here  is  as  much  among 
men  as  women  ;  and,  as  far  as  it  has  yet  gone,  it  is  among 
that  class  of  society  which  has  hitherto  been  almost  entirely 
free  from  religious  influence,  lawyers  and  educated  men.  At 
last  Nottoway  Court,  there  were  in  the  bar  at  once,  seven 
lawyers,  professors  of  religion  !  This  is  unexampled  in 
Virginia.  O  !  if  we  had  suitable  men,  the  desolations  of 
many  generations  might  be  built,  and  the  ruins  of  Zion  in 
our  native  State  might  be  repaired.  We  cannot  get  on  half 
fast  enough,  in  raising  a  supply  of  religious  instructors.  And 
what  this  country  will  do  I  know  not.  You  need  not  be 
told  how  it  has  suffered  in  its  spiritual  interests,  from  igno- 
rant teachers.  But  experience  of  the  evil  is  not  sufficient 
for  its  cure.  It  is  necessary  that  the  people  should  have  just 
ideas  of  something  better,  and  they  can  acquire  these  only 
by  experience  too.     But  the  difliculty  is  to  find  men  to  send 


DOCTOR     RICE.  345 

among  them,  and  thus  let  them  see  and  feel  what  is  meant 
by  good  preaching. 

Mr.  Nettleton  is  a  remarkable  man,  and  chiefly,  I  think, 
remarkable  for  his  power  of  producing  a  great  excitement 
without  much  appearance  of  feeling.  The  people  do  not 
either  weep,  or  talk  away  their  impressions.  The  preacher 
chiefly  addresses  Bible  truth  to  their  consciences.  I  have 
not  heard  him  utter  as  yet  a  single  sentiment  opposed  to  what 
you  and  I  call  orthodoxy.  He  preaches  the  Bible.  He  de- 
rives his  illustrations  from  the  Bible. 

Mrs.  Rice  joins  me  in  love  to  Mrs.  Alexander  and  the 
children,  as  well  as  to  yourself. 

I  am,  as  ever,  most  truly  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Union  Theological  Seminary,  Aug.  22d,  1828. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  have  received  your  late  letters,  and  do  thank  God  that 
you  feel  so  lively  an  interest  for  our  Seminary.  The  mea- 
sures which  you  recommend,  however,  would  be  very  much 
modified,  if  you  were  acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances 
of  the  country  about  us.  It  would  require  a  very  long  let- 
ter to  explain  them  ;  and  I  have  not  time  to  write  one  now. 
The  statement,  however,  of  a  single  fact,  to  a  man  of  your 
habits  of  business  and  calculation,  will  throw  great  light  on  the 
subject.  It  is  this,  that  the  building  of  a  wooden  house  with 
us,  costs  within  about  five  per  cent,  as  much  as  a  brick  one.  It 
is  universally  admitted  here  then,  that  for  any  permanent  es- 
tablishment it  is  far  best  to  build  with  brick.  Under  this 
conviction,  and  feeling  the  importance  of  having  more  room, 
before  I  received  your  letters,  I  ventured,  on  my  own  respon- 
sibility, to  engage  a  workman  to  put  up  a  brick  building. 
And  he  is  now  actually  engaged  in  the  job,  and  has  engaged 
to  finish  it  this  season. 

At  present  Mr.  Goodrich  and  I,  with  our  wives,  and  all 


346  MEMOIR      OF 

our  domestic  establishments,  are  in  the  same  building  with 
the  students.  Bui  I  find  that,  on  many  accounts,  this  does 
not  answer  well.  We  submit  to  it  through  necessity.  The 
building  which  I  have  contracted  for,  will  be  occupied  as 
soon  as  finished  by  us,  and  the  whole  of  the  seminary  build- 
ing will  be  given  up  to  the  students.  This  will  make  room 
for  the  accommodation  of  nearly  forty  in  the  whole.  And 
on  the  general  plan  which  we  have  laid  for  the  whole  insti- 
tution, this  is,  I  am  persuaded,  the  best  measure  which  we 
can  adopt.  If  our  friends  will,  on  this  plan,  furnish  us  with 
nails,  locks,  glass,  &c.  it  will  be  a  great  relief.  For  the 
fact  is,  in  the  necessities  of  the  case,  I  have  made  myself 
liable  for  the  whole  expense  of  the  building;  and  if  I  cannot 
get  the  money  as  agent  next  spring,  I  shall  be  obliged  to 
sacrifice  the  little  property  which  I  have  left.  Any  contri- 
butions then  in  the  way  of  materials  which  you  can  procure, 
will  be  very  acceptable  indeed.  If  you  will  let  me  know  as 
soon  as  you  receive  this  what  can  be  done,  I  will  send  you 
a  bill  of  such  things  as  we  want. 

I  am  very  desirous  to  get  some  person  who  will  answer 
for  a  Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History,  ultimately.  Do 
you  know  any  one  whom  you  could  recommend?  If  so, 
do  mention  his  name  in  your  next  letter ;  for  the  matter  must 
be  brought  forward  at  the  meeting  of  our  Board  in  the  fall. 
My  purpose  is  to  recommend  the  appointment  of  a  young 
man,  who  can,  by  his  previous  attainments,  and  his  dili- 
gence in  study,  soon  qualify  himself  for  the  office  of  Profes- 
sor. 

You  mentioned,  in  a  previous  letter,  that  the  Education 
Society  would  afiTord  aid  to  the  young  men,  whose  names  I 
left  with  you,  as  soon  as  application  should  be  made  in  due 
form.  Now  these  young  men  are  all  beneficiaries,  on  the 
books  of  the  Society ;  dependent  for  the  whole  of  last  year, 
and  for  the  present  also — and  already  have  they  suffered 
considerable  inconvenience,  by  not  receiving  the  money, 
which  it  was  expected  would  be  appropriated.     It  was  im- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  347 

agined  that  the  American  Society  would  take  the  beneficia- 
ries of  the  Young  Men's  Education  Society  of  New  York, 
just  as  they  stood.  Do,  my  dear  sir,  have  the  goodness  to 
attend  to  this  matter,  and  let  me  hear  about  it  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

May  I  trouble  you  to  send  the  enclosed  letter  to  brother 
Cornelius  ?  I  do  not  know  at  present  where  he  is ;  but 
hope  you  will  be  able  to  learn. 

With  sincerest  affection,  yours  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Union  Seminary,  Oct.  Slst,  1828. 
My  Beloved  Friend, 

I  have  just  got  home  from  our  Presbytery  and  Synod; 
and  find  that  I  owe  you  for  two  letters,  one  of  the  11th  and 
the  other  of  the  18th  inst.  I  embrace  the  opportunity  offer- 
ed by  the  first  mail  to  answer  both. 

I  do  rejoice  to  hear  that  the  affairs  took  a  good  turn  in 
Philadelphia.  I  have  received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Alexander 
since  my  return,  and  find  that  he  was  very  much  pleased  with 
the  meeting.  If  my  sermon  did  good,  and  shall  hereafter  do 
good,  I  do  not  take  any  credit  for  it  to  myself.  But  I  shall  be 
glad  Jndeed,  if  it  promotes  the  cause  of  Missions;  and  the 
more  so,  if  it  indirectly  aids  our  infant  Seminary.  We  do 
so  much  need  well  taught  and  faithful  ministers  in  the  South- 
ern country,  that  1  feel  our  enterprise  to  be  one  of  the  highest 
importance.  It  is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  somebody  did 
not  take  hold  of  this  matter  fifteen  years  ago.  But  perhaps 
the  time  had  not  arrived  for  success. 

Our  Synod  manifested  a  very  fine  spirit  in  relation  to  our 
object.  Once  they  were  cold  and  indifferent;  because  they 
said  the  work  could  not  be  done.  Now  they  appear  to  be 
encouraged,  and  there  is  great  hope  of  ultimate  and  complete 
success.  Mr.  Goodrich  has  gained  much  character  and  influ- 
ence during  the  last  year  in  Virginia,  and  I  suppose  before 


348  MEMOIR     OF 

the  time  is  out,  (Ciiristmas)  will  be  appointed  Professor  of 
Biblical  Literature,  on  the  New  York  foundation.  This  is 
well.  Being  a  New  Yorker  himself,  and  yet  suiting  the 
Southern  country  exactly,  he  will,  with  great  propriety,  fill 
the  New  York  Professorship. 

The  following  statement  of  expenses  at  our  Seminary  is 
founded  on  the  accounts  kept  by  the  students  the  last  year. 
Boarding  or  diet,  per  annum  $65 — washing,  $10 — fuel,  $5 — 
candles  furnished — tuition  and  room  rent,  nothing. — Total, 
$80. 

There  are  several  societies  organized,  which  keep  a  pretty 
competent  supply  of  oil  or  candles  for  the  use  of  the  institu- 
tion, and  also  a  depository  of  all  sorts  of  clothing  except 
hats,  coats,  and  shoes,  from  which  the  poor  students  are  sup- 
plied without  charge,  and  which  materially  lessen  their  ex- 
penses. 

We  hope  soon  to  have  a  small  field  for  cultivation  by  the 
students,  from  which  they  will  raise  all  their  own  vegeta- 
bles, and  thus  still  farther  reduce  their  expenses. 

Mrs.  Rice  desires  me  to  say  that  she  has  reserved  a  lodg- 
ing room  in  our  part  of  the  Seminary  on  purpose  for  your 
brother;  and  that  if  he  needs  any  nursing  she  intends  to 
enjoy  the  pleasure  of  affording  it  herself,  and  this  she  will 
delight  to  do  for  jour  sake.  Mr.  Goodrich  and  I  both  keep 
a  horse,  and  your  brother  can  ordinarily  get  one  or  the  other 
to  ride  out  every  day. 

I  am  truly  glad  to  hear  that  you  have  procured  some  Mis- 
sionaries for  us.  I  hope  that  they  are  of  the  right  sort — that 
is,  men  who  love  their  work  so  well,  that  they  will  live  or 
die  by  it  just  as  may  be  ordained.  Mr.  Nettleton  is  now  a 
hundred  miles  from  me,  and  it  will  not  be  possible  for  me  to 
hear  from  him  in  less  than  a  week,  or  ten  days,  as  I  can  do 
this  only  by  means  of  cross  mails.  But  I  shall  send  Mr. 
Peters'  letter  to  him  to-morrow,  with  a  request  that  he  will 
answer  it  immediately.  1  do  this,  because  1  know  nothing 
of  Mr.  Saxton  myself,    ^ut  I  have  just  finished  a  note  to 


DOCTOR     RICE.  349 

Mr.  Peters,  which  you  will  see,  I  suppose.  In  this  I  tell 
him  that  we  want  plain  Bible  preachers — men,  who  instead 
of  thinking  that  they  have  made  wonderful  discoveries 
which  will  cause  the  people  to  admire  their  ingenuity,  will  be 
self-denying  enough  to  tell  them  just  what  is  in  the  Bible, 
and  no  more,  nor  no  less. 

I  hope  that  you  will  find  no  difficulty  in  making  the  col- 
lections for  the  New  York  Professorship,  especially  as  one 
of  the  finest  sons  of  New  York  is  in  our  seminary.  I  am 
more  and  more  pleased  with  Mr.  Goodrich  as  a  teacher. 
He  is  fully  bent  on  making  our  institution  just  what  I  pro- 
posed— a  Bible  school.  He  enters  entirely  into  all  my 
plans ;  and  goes  beyond  my  expectation  in  one  thing — he 
makes  the  critical  study  of  the  Bible  a  means  of  promoting 
the  piety  of  the  students.  This  study  has  always  been  ob- 
j acted  to,  on  account  of  its  deadening  influence  on  pious 
feeling  ;  but  under  Goodrich  the  case  is  just  the  reverse.  He 
is  worth  more  than  his  weight  in  gold. 

M  rs.  Rice  joins  me  in  love  to  you  and  yours.  Pray  for  us. 
Most  atfectionately  yours, 

John  H.  Rice, 

I  expect  to-morrow  to  set  out  for  North  Carolina,  to  be 
absent  ten  days. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 
Union  Seminary,  Nov,  18,  1828. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  received  your  favour  by  Mr.  Lane,  and  would  have  an- 
swered it  sooner,  if  1  could.  But  you  shall  judge  whether 
this  is  a  mere  excuse  or  not.  On  the  25th  of  September  I 
set  out  to  Philadelphia.  After  preaching,  you  know,  1  set 
out  next  morning  home.  On  my  arrival  my  examination 
had  commenced.  The  day  after  I  set  out  to  attend  Presby- 
tery in  Albemarle.  From  thence  I  went  to  Synod  in  Staun- 
ton. On  my  return  home,  I  attended  two  days  meeting  of 
t  he  Board  of  College,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  second 
31 


350  MEMOIR     OF 

day  I  went  on  my  way  to  the  Synod  of  North  Carolina. 
The  day  after  my  return,  I  set  out  to  a  meeting  of  our 
Presbytery  (at  Painesville  in  Amelia ! !)  and  last  night  1  ar- 
rived at  home,  sick  with  a  severe  cold.  Now,  I  mention  all 
this,  only  for  the  purpose  of  showing  why  it  is,  that  I  so  sel- 
dom have  communicated  with  you.  My  life  is  one  of  inces- 
sant labour — and  1  hope  that  it  will  be  so  as  long  as  I  live.  It 
is  a  privilege  enough  to  be  employed  for  the  building  up  of 
the  Church.  If  I  do  any  thing,  as  far  as  influence  is  con- 
cerned, and  success  is  gained,  it  is  all  from  above.  As  for 
the  instrumentality  by  which  1  was  originally  excited  to  this 
course  of  action, — you  were  employed  for  that  purpose.  I 
take  no  credit  to  myself  at  all — I  deserve  none.  I  am  a  poor 
sinner;  and  deserve  nothing  but  eternal  perdition.  If  deli- 
vered from  sin  and  made  holy,  it  will  be  honour  and  happi- 
ness enough.  But  I  did  not  sit  down  to  write  in  this  way. 
*  *  ix  *  *  * 

I  was  unhappily  from  home,  when  my  friend  James  pass- 
ed through  the  neighbourhood.  1  mean  unhappily  for  my- 
self— for  I  could  not  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him.  I 
hear  that  he  is  well,  and  preaching  with  great  acceptance  in 

Charlotte. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

The  two  Synods  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  have 
concurred,  without  a  dissenting  voice,  in  the  appointment  of 
Mr.  Goodrich  as  professor  of  Biblical  Literature.  I  think 
this  unanimity  very  remarkable.  We  are  now  thinking  of  a 
third  professor.  But  whether  there  will  be  a  similar  con- 
currence of  sentiment  is  very  doubtful.  I  wish  much  that 
attention  could  be  directed  to  a  man  with  learning  enough  to 
make  the  necessary  preparation,  and  with  a  spirit  of  action, 
which  might  be  breathed  into  all  our  students.  If  you  should 
write  to  any  of  the  brethren  either  in  this  state  or  in  North 
Carolina,  1  wish  you  would  drop  a  hint  or  two  on  this  sub- 
ject. 

1  rejoice  in  Mr.  Hodge's  safe  return ;  and  in  his  return 


DOCTOR     RICE.  351 

safe  from  German  Neology.  But  this  I  expected.  I  should 
like  much  to  see  him.  And  I  like  much  his  new  plan  of  a 
Repertory.  I  think  Addison  has  got  into  his  right  place, 
and  I  trust  his  work  will  be  profitable.  We  shall  do  what 
we  can  to  get  subscribers.  But  a  specimen  number  will 
help  us  on  considerably  in  that  business. 

There  is  still  a  gradual  growth  of  religion  in  this  region  ; 
and  a  strong  spirit  of  inquiry.  What  do  you  think  of  a 
Presbytery  meeting  to  ordain  a  minister  at  Painesville  in 
Amelia  county  ?  Thirty  years  ago,  that  place  went  by  the 
name  of  Chinqiiepin  Church;  but  it  was  changed  by  a  for- 
mal resolution,  in  honour  of  Tom  Paine,  into  Painesville  ! 
And  now,  one  of  our  students  is  labouring  successfully  there 
to  build  up  a  Presbyterian  Church  !  But  we  do  now  want 
at  least  twenty  Missionaries  in  our  bounds. 

I  saw  a  young  man  named  *  *  ,  sent  by  the  General  As- 
sembly's Board  of  Missions  to  North  Carolina.  He  was 
commissioned  for  five  months  to  labour  in  the  bounds  of 
Concord  Presbytery.  The  young  man  said  he  would  stay 
the  five  months,  but  not  a  day  longer  in  that  region  I  This 
policy  is  still  pursued,  and  it  injures  the  cause  of  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly's  Missions.  Brief  Missionary  tours  will  not 
succeed  in  building  up  churches  in  the  South,  and  he  who 
comes  to  perform  labours  of  that  sort  among  us  now,  must 
come  prepared  to  "  enlist  for  the  war." 

Give  our  love  to  Mrs.  Alexander  and  the  children,  includ- 
ing Mary  Rice. 

I  am  most  truly,  &;c. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  SAMUEL  L.  GRAHAM. 

Union  Theological  Seminary,  Nov.  23d,  1828. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  was  sorry  to  part  from  you  so  unceremoniously  at  Mr. 
Sneed's.  Indeed,  I  expected  that  you  would  overtake  us, 
and  that  I  should  have  the  opportunity  of  riding  with  you 


352  MEMOIR     OF 

for  several  miles,  and  chatting  about  many  things  of  com- 
mon interest.  But  I  had  a  hard  day's  travel  to  accomplish, 
and  knew  that  I  had  not  a  moment  of  time  to  lose.  And  I 
do  not  wonder  that  you  were  slow  to  leave  so  pleasant  a 
place  as  Mr.  Sneed's.  1  should  like  to  go  there  again, 
and  stay  a  good  while. 

We  are  in  expectation  of  a  new  class  in  the  Seminary, 
of  from  ten  to  fifteen.  V/e  cannot  tell  exactly  how  many. 
We  have  two  from  the  North,  and  expect  two  or  three 
others ;  as  well  as  two  or  three  from  Ohio ;  and  at  least  two 
new  ones  from  North  Carolina. 

I  find  that  the  proposed  course  of  study  meets  with  very 
general  approbation ;  and  if  we  can  carry  our  plans  through, 
I  have  no  doubt  but  that  we  shall  see  many  coming  South 
for  a  Theological  education.  And  why  should  not  the 
Board,  in  the  boldness  of  faith,  take  a  high  ground,  and 
enter  into  large  plans  of  operation  without  delay  ?  In  this 
age,  great  enterprises  which  fill  the  mind,  and  excite  a 
powerful  interest,  succeed;  while  little  timid  schemes  fall 
through. 

There  are  some  excellent  and  able  workmen  in  this^^ 
region  at  this  time,  who  would  undertake  to  complete 
our  plan  of  a  Seminary  building,  and  erect  the  necessary 
number  of  Professors'  houses,  on  a  credit  of  three  years ; 
and  then  wait  as  long  as  the  Board  would  wish,  on  re- 
ceiving interest  for  their  money.  If  a  contract,  then,  were 
made  now,  we  might  in  twelve  months  have  room  for  one 
hundred  students,  a  Library,  a  Chapel,  Lecture-rooms,  and 
buildings  for  three  Professors.  Why  should  not  this  thing 
be  undertaken?  If  the  Boaixl  were  not  to  meet  at  the 
time  appointed,  I  would  go  to  Carohna.  But  that  is  im- 
possible. An  agent  in  that  region,  of  proper  qualifications, 
could,  I  think,  do  much.  Why  should  we  not  add  a  fourth 
Professorship;  and  let  it  be  the  Professorship  of  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia;  and  let  that  Synod  appoint  their  man  ?' 
I  wish  very  much  to  make  our  Seminary  bear  on  the 


DOCTOR     RICE.  353 

religious  interests  of  the  Colleges  to  the  South.  It  clearly 
will  not  do  to  send  young  men  to  this  place  with  a  superfi- 
cial Grammar-school  education.  There  is  a  mighty  differ- 
ence between  your  Chapel  Hill  boys,  and  those  .who  come 
from  Grammar-school.  And  I  do  hope  you  will  require  all 
your  (Carolina  beneficiaries  to  go  to  the  University  of  the 
State.  We  are  glad  to  see  Dr.  Caldwell's  students  here. 
It  is  very  earnestly  my  wish  that  our  third  Professor  should 
be  a  man  from  Carolina.  And  I  want  him  now  to  be  desig- 
nated ;  that  he  may  prepare  for  his  work.  I  have  a  very 
high  opinion  of  •■  *  *,  and  love  him  much.  But  I  wish 
you  and  others  to  consider  the  following  questions,  before 
you  fix  on  any  particular  person. 

1.  Is  it  not  of  the  utmost  importance  that  our  Professors 
should  have,  in  full  measure,  the  spirit  of  action,  which 
characterizes  the  age  ?  and  can  we  find  an  old  man^  who 
"  breathes  and  burns^^  as  the  case  demands  ? 

2.  Will  not  the  third  Professorship  require  a  degree  of 
research,  long  continued  and  laborious,  through  tomes  of 
Greek  and  Hebrew,  which  we  cannot  expect  from  a  man 
advanced  in  life  ? 

3.  Can  you  not  then  find  among  you  a  young  man,  just 
now  approaching  his  full  vigour,  who  has  learning  enough 
to  read  Ecclesiastical  Greek  and  Latin,  with  tolerable 
facility ;  a  spirit  of  action,  which  he  can  infuse  into  others*; 
a  sound,  discriminating  judgment,  which  will  at  once  en- 
sure the  confidence  of  his  brethren,  and  command  the  res- 
pect of  the  students;  and  who,  finally,  has  had  some  ex- 
perience in  pastoral  life,  so  as  to  know  something  of  the 
practical  application  of  principles  of  polity  in  the  govern- 
ment and  discipline  of  the  Church  ?  And  if  you  have  sucli 
a  man,  no  matter  what  letter  in  the  alphabet  begins  his 
name,  would  not  he,  on  the  whole,  do  best?  I  throw  out 
these  hints;  and  hope  you  will  think  of  them. 

In  sincere  friendship,  I  am,  &c. 

John  H.  Kice. 
31* 


354  MEMOIR     OF 

TO  MR.  KNOWLBS  TAYLOR r 

Union  Seminary,  March  29th,  I829i 
My  Beloved  Friend  and  Brother, 

It  devolves  on  me  to  perform  a  mournful  office.     I  have  a 
brother  whom  I  educated  for  the  ministry,  and  I  feel  to 
wards  him  as  I  do  not  towards  any  other  human  being,  a 
sort  of  mingling  of  parental  and  fraternal  affection ;  and  I 
know  you  will  feel  when  1  tell  you  dear  James  is  gone.  *  * 

His  sufferings,  for  some  time  past,  have  been  very  severe 
— not  so  much  from  pain  as  from  excessive  debility.  This 
was  so  great,  that,  as  you  may  have  seen  from  my  former 
communications,  the  wonder  was  he  did  not  die  sooner. 

Apart  from  natural  feelings  of  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  one 
so  beloved,  and  grief  that  the  Church  should  be  bereaved  of 
so  precious  a  young  minister,  there  is  nothing  in  the  case  of 
your  dear  brother  but  cause  of  joy  and  thanksgiving.  During 
his  whole  sickness,  and  amidst  all  the  changes  produced  by 
disease  in  his  spirits,  he  never  had  the  shadow  of  a  doubt  in 
regard  to  his  acceptance;  his  faith  never  failed,  nor  did  his 
love  grow  cold.  In  the  midst  of  all  his  sickness,  the  adver- 
sary was  most  mercifully  restrained ;  and  he  enjoyed  the 
presence  of  his  redeeming  Lord.  His  affectionate  heart,  too, 
retained  all  its  kindness,  and  he  enjoyed  to  the  last  the  sym- 
pathetic attentions  of  those  who  ministered  to  his  wants. 
Dear  man!  he  won  our  love  most  entirely. 

He  was  graciously  permitted  to  exercise  his  reason  to  the 
very  last,  and  showed  what  was  the  bent  of  his  mind  by 
his  dying  speech  :  Strive.'  strive!  *  *  to  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.     *         *         * 

How  mysterious  this  event!  Since  it  has  appeared  to  me 
inevitable,  that  one  so  prepared  for  the  ministry,  and  so  de- 
sirous to  be  useful,  as  our  dear  brother  was,  should  die;  the 
thought  has  often  occurred  to  me,  that  there  are  services  for 
very  holy  and  devoted  men  in  a  higher  sphere  to  which  they 
are  called,  and  where  they  do  incomparably  more   for  the 


1 


DOCTOR     RICE.  355 

glory  of  the  Divine  Redeemer,  and  are  more  useful  than  they 
could  possibly  be  on  earth :  and  while  we  are  wondering 
that  they  should  be  cut  off,  and  disappoint  all  our  hopes  of 
their  usefulness,  they  probably  do  more  in  a  day,  in  heaven, 
than  they  could  do  in  a  lifetime  in  this  world.  The  Master 
had  use  for  our  brother  above,  and  called  for  him.  We 
would  have  kept  him  here.  I  confess  I  never  have  seen  a 
young  man  whom  I  so  much  wished  should  live. 

But  why  should  he  come  here,  far  from  home,  to  die  ? 
*  *  *  On  his  passage  to  heaven,  God  sent  him  by 
this  place,  that  it  might  be  seen  here  what  a  young  mui- 
ister  ought  to  be,  and  how  a  christian  can  suffer  and  die. 
And  perhaps  you  have  thus  been  permitted  to  do  more  for  us 
than  could  be  done  with  money. 

Dear  brother !  I  sympathize  with  you  and  your  afflicted 
relatives.     May  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  your  spirit. 
Most  affectionately  yours, 

J.  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  B.  B.  W^ISNER,  D.D.  AND  JOHN  TAPPAN,  ESQ.* 

Union  Theological  Seminary,  March  3 Is/,  1829. 
Gentlemen, 

Your  communication  as  to  my  proposed  visit  to  Boston, 

*  Tills  letter,  (as  I  am  iiiformed  by  the  gentlemen  who  very  kindly 
communicated  it  to  me,)  was  written  under  the  following  circum- 
stances.  Dr.  R.  had  visited  Boston  during  the  preceding  summer, 
and  made  known  his  plans  to  the  friends  of  religion  in  that  city;  but 
it  being  then  a  time  of  great  pecuniary  pressure  there,  those  friends 
preferred  postponing  their  contributions  till  the  following  summer, 
when  they  promised  him  they  would  be  ready  to  make  them.  The 
next  spring,  however,  the  pressure  had  not  passed  by,  but  had  rather 
increased,  and  seemed  likely  to  continue  to  increase  through  the  sum- 
mer. In  this  state  of  things,  the  gentlemen  to  whom  this  letter  is 
addressed,  wrote  to  him,  assuring  him  of  an  unabated  interest  in  his 
object,  among  evangelical  christians  in  Boston,  and  inquiring  whether 
he  could  not  defer  his  intended,  and  authorized  application  to  them 
another  year ;  and  this  is  his  answer  to  their  letter. 


356  MEMOIR     OP 

has  occasioned  great  perplexity  ;  and  after  taking  considera- 
ble time  to  think  on  the  subject,  I  am  exceedingly  embar- 
rassed.    Let  me  give  you  a  statement  of  the  case. 

On  my  return  home,  I  found  that  we  were  to  have  near 
thirty  students  in  our  seminary.  Our  building  is  only  fifty 
feet  long  and  forty  wide.  And  in  this  contracted  space  we 
have  two  professors  with  their  families,  and  our  students, 
except  two  or  three,  who  get  lodging  in  the  neighbourhood. 
One  room  not  eighteen  feet  square  serves  for  our  library, 
and  lecture  room,  and  chapel.  The  professors  have  to  study 
in  their  wives'  chambers.  The  students  are  obliged  to  live 
there  in  a  room,  and  when  tlie  weather  admits  of  it,  to  seek 
praying  places  in  the  woods. 

It  must  be  manifest  to  any  one  acquainted  with  study, 
tliat  we  suffer  greatly  from  having  to  live  in  this  crowded 
state.  I  found  it  so,  and  resolved  that  there  must  be  a 
change.  But  in  the  state  of  utter  exhaustion  of  the  pecunia- 
ry resources  of  this  region,  it  was  in  vain  to  think  of  apply- 
ing to  the  people  here  for  assistance.  I,  however,  placed 
implicit  confidence  in  the  pledge  given  by  my  Boston  friends, 
and  determined  that,  in  reliance  on  their  constancy  and  good 
faith,  I  would  make  a  contract  for  a  building,  payment  for 
which  should  be  made  next  June.  Accordingly,  I  have 
pledged  myself  to  an  amount  a  little  exceeding  five  thousand 
dollars  ;  and  hold  myself  bound  to  raise  it  by  the  time  spe- 
cified. For  this  my  reliance  was  on  my  friends  in  Boston. 
It  is  true  that  there  is  left  to  me  after  the  various  sacrifices 
which  I  have  made,  property  worth  about  $5000 — one 
fourth  of  what  I  once  was  worth.  This  I  had  thought  it 
my  duty  to  reserve,  (as  I  am  advancing  in  life,  and  shall  pro- 
bably leave  my  wife  behind  me  in  this  world,)  for  the  sup- 
port of  her  to  whom  I  am  bound  by  every  tie  which  can 
bind  man  to  woman.  I  know  well  that  in  every  age,  those 
who  rise  up  "do  not  remember  Joseph."  Every  sacrifice 
of  worldly  interest  which  I  have  made,  was  made  by  my 
wife  as  cheerfully,  to  say  the  least,  as  by  me.     But  when 


DOCTOR     RICE.  357 

I  am  gone,  and  she  is  old,  there  will  then  be  a  generation 
which  will  not  know  any  of  these  things.  I  must,  however, 
raise  the  money  by  some  means,  and  if  I  fail,  my  little  pro- 
perty must  go. 

To  this  last  measure  I  have  an  objection  besides  what  I 
have  already  stated.  When  it  was  known  that  I  had  ven- 
tured to  make  this  contract,  the  people  who  knew  my  cir- 
cumstances, asked  me  on  what  I  relied  to  raise  the  money. 
I  replied  "  on  the  faith  of  my  friends  in  Boston — their  pro- 
mise is  as  good  to  me  as  money  in  the  bank,  to  be  drawn 
next  June."  They  thought  me  rash  in  my  procedure. 
Some  said  that  I  never  would  get  a  cent.  And  so  I  was  told 
in  Philadelphia,  and  every  place  south  of  New  York.  Now, 
in  the  present  state  of  things,  I  would  not,  for  the  value  of 
the  money,  have  it  known  that  1  was  disappointed  in  the 
confidence  placed  in  the  Boston  people. 

I  have  made  this  statement  thus  frankly,  that  you  may 
judge  of  my  feelings  on  this  occasion.  But  I  wish  you  to 
understand,  that  I  do  not  doubt  in  the  least  degree,  the  cor- 
rectness of  any  part  of  your  representation  ;  either  in  regard 
to  the  pecuniary  pressure  on  the  good  people  of  your  city, 
or  your  friendship  for  me.  But,  fully,  admitting  all  this,  I 
cannot  but  feel  much  embarrassed,  and  at  a  loss  to  deter- 
mine what  to  do.  At  one  time,  I  have  thought  that  it  would 
be  good  policy  to  negociate  a  loan  for  a  year,  giving  a  mort- 
gage on  the  house  and  lot,  and  any  other  property  that  may 
be  necessary  for  security.  At  other  times,  I  have  supposed 
that  this  would  be  a  case  of  considerable  difficulty.  I  want 
farther  advice.  Of  one  thing  I  am  persuaded,  that  it  is  of 
some  importance  to  the  cause  of  religion,  that,  in  one  way 
or  another,  I  should  get  this  money  from  Boston.  I  am  so 
convinced  of  it,  that  I  would  cheerfully  give  five  hundred 
dollars  out  of  my  own  pocket,  rather  than  it  should  not  be 
done. 

I  do  not  mean  to  whine  about  this  matter ;  nor  do  I  aim 
to  excite  any  man's  commiseration.     I  know  that,  judged 


358  MEMOIR      OP 

by  the  cautious  policy  of  this  world,  I  acted  imprudently  in 
making  a  contract,  where  there  was,  from  the  nature  of  the 
case,  so  much  uncertainty.  But  when  I  saw  and  felt  that 
interests,  in  my  view,  of  the  highest  importance  were  suffer- 
ing for  want  of  such  measures  as  I  adopted,  I  thought  that  I 
should  betray  a  want  of  faith  in  the  Head  of  the  Church,  of 
reliance  on  the  promises  of  brethren,  and  of  disinterested- 
ness on  my  part,  if  I  did  not  go  forward  and  prepare  to  meet 
the  consequences.  I  did  so  with  my  eyes  open,  and  know- 
ing that  I  was  doing  what  the  world  calls  a  foolish  thing."* 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Steam  Boat  Bellona,  July  Sthy  1829. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Mrs.  Rice  is  reading  the  memoirs  of  Urquhart,  and  why 
should  I  not  chat  a  little  with  you  ? 

Your  plan  about  the  education  of  young  men  in  our  Semi- 
nary, pleases  me  more  the  more  I  think  about  it.  And 
I  do  hope  that  you  will  be  able  to  effect  it.  A  general  revi- 
val of  religion  in  the  Southern  churches  would  bring  forward 
a  host  of  young  men  to  the  work  of  the  Lord  ;  and  call  for 
much  aid  from  the  Education  Society.  At  any  rate,  we 
have  reason  to  expect  a  gradual  increase  of  our  numbers, 
and  a  want  of  increasing  aid.  At  the  same  time,  consider- 
ing the  feebleness  of  our  Southern  churches,  and  the  reli- 
ance which  we  must  place  for  some  years  to  come  on  our 
brethren  to  the  North  for  assistance,  it  is  very  desirable  that 
every  measure  should  be  adopted  decently  to  bring  our  Se- 

*  It  may  be  presumed  that  on  receiving  this  letter,  the  gentlemen 
wrote  again  to  him  to  say  that  he  might  come  on,  and  they  would  do 
what  they  could  for  him ;  for  we  find  that  he  visited  Boston  in  June 
following,  when  he  received  a  very  handsome  amount  of  contributions 
from  the  friends  of  the  Seminary  there ;  enough,  we  believe,  to  pay  for 
the  building  which  he  was  erecting,  and  which  was  afterwards  called 
the  Boston  House,  in  honour  of  their  liberality. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  359 

minary  into  mind,  and  show  that  it  is  regarded  as  important, 
by  members  of  the  church  who  are  active  in  the  cause  of 
the  Lord. 

I  have  been  much  more  than  usually  pressed  in  spirit 
lately.  I  do  think  that  the  next  five  years  will  be  pretty  de- 
cisive of  the  religious  state  of  this  country.  I  see  a  grow- 
ing disposition  in  the  enemies  of  the  cause  of  Christ  to  unite. 
And  I  should  not  be  surprised  to  see  organized  associations 
in  opposition  to  Christianity.  They  want  nothing  now  but 
a  name  that  it  will  do  to  assume  before  the  world,  to  bring 
them  into  union  and  concentrated  action.  Nothing  in  the 
way  of  means  can  put  down  this  opposition,  but  a  powerful 
influence  exerted  by  christians  acting  together.  The  devil 
sees  the  danger  to  which  his  interests  are  exposed,  and  has 
succeeded  to  some  degree  in  getting  christians  to  act  sepa- 
rately. We  shall  see  divisions  increase  I  fear ;  and  a  secta- 
rian spirit  extend  among  those  who  profess  to  be  liberal 
orthodox  christians.     But  may  the  Lord  forbid  ! 

I  ought  to  have  mentioned  that  Mr.  Nettleton  wishes  a  box 
of  his  hymn  books  to  be  sent  as  soon  as  possible  to  Prince 
Edward.     Mention  this  to  Shipman. 

Yours  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Union  Seminary,  July  25//t,  1829. 
My  Dearly  Beloved  Friend, 

We  arrived,  by  a  good  Providence,  safely  at  home  on  the 
21st  day  of  this  month;  but  not  without  a  few  days  of 
painful  delay.  Between  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  my 
wife  was  taken  with  a  violent  pain  in  the  face.  She  had  a 
wretched  night ;  and  when  we  awoke  in  the  morning  I  found 
her  with  a  high  fever.  Every  thing  indicated  bile  ;  and  for 
several  days  she  was  too  much  indisposed  to  travel.  We 
spent  the  time,  however,  with  our  old  friend  Mr.  Wirt,  and 


360  MEMOIR     OF 

were  attended  to  with  the  warmest  kindness.  On  Wednes- 
day evening,  Mrs.  Rice  was  able  to  ride  to  the  steam  boat, 
and  we  left  Baltimore  at  three  o'clock  for  Norfolk,  where  we 
arrived  about  the  same  hour  the  next  day ;  and  tarried  with 
our  friends  there  until  Friday  morning,  when  we  set  out  in 
the  boat  for  Richmond.  By  the  time  we  had  gotten  to  this 
place,  Mrs.  Rice  seemed  to  be  quite  well,  except  weakness. 
But  we  were  obliged  to  wait  for  the  stage  until  Monday. 
This  brought  us  to  Raine's  tavern  in  the  evening ;  and  next 
morning  we  took  a  hack  and  came  home.  Thus  experienc- 
ing all  the  way  the  kind  care  of  the  merciful  One. 

We  often  talked,  and  oftener  thought  and  felt  about  you  and 
your  dear  family;  Fitch,  and  the  venerable  parents  of  you  all; 
and  not  least  of  that  dear  departed  brother  who  has  gone  be- 
fore to  his  perfect  rest  in  heaven.  We  love  to  dwell  on  his 
memory,  and  to  meditate  on  his  example.  We  count  it  a 
great  privilege  to  have  been  permitted  to  watch  over  him  in 
his  last  sickness,  to  soothe  his  sufferings,  and  accompany 
him  to  the  very  place  from  which  he  went,  not  indeed  in  a 
chariot  of  fire,  but  of  love,  to  his  Father's  house  on  the  hill 
of  Zion.  And  I  am  sure  that  we  shall  ever  be  thankful  that 
one  who  had  so  much  of  the  spirit  of  Christ  was  sent  to  us, 
to  show  us  and  our  young  men  in  the  Seminary,  how  holy 
and  how  happy  one  may  be  before  he  gets  to  heaven.  You 
can  hardly  conceive  how  this  whole  ordering  of  Providence 
has  bound  us  to  you.  There  are  no  friends  on  earth  that  we 
feel  to  be  nearer  to  us  than  the  relations  of  James  B.  Taylor. 

We  both  unite  in  kindest  regards  to  our  friends,  and  in 
fervent  love  to  you,  and  your  dear  wife,  and  children. 
I  am,  dear  brother,  yours  most  truly, 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  361 

TO  WILLIAM  M.  ATKINSON,  ESq.^ 

Union  Seminary,  August  I2th,  1829. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  was  greatly  pleased  to  receive  your  letter  on  more  ac- 
counts than  one.  I  love  these  tokens  of  your  christian 
friendship ;  and  would  gladly  receive  them  more  frequently. 
But  principally  I  was  delighted  because  of  what  you  tell  me 
concerning  dear  Thomas.  1  express  myself  thus  concerning 
him,  because  ever  since  I  have  known  him  he  has  excited  in 
me  a  very  peculiar  interest.  Indeed,  I  have  rarely  felt  to- 
wards any  youth  as  I  have  towards  him  ; — a  sort  of  parental 
strength  and  tenderness  of  affection,  which  I  hardly  know 
how  to  analyze.  You  may  well  suppose,  then,  that  1  did 
indeed  rejoice  when  I  heard  of  him  that*' behold  he  pray- 
eth." 

But  this  joy  is  mingled  with  much  solicitude.  And  some 
of  the  statements  of  your  letter  increased  that  solicitude  not 
a  little.  When  one  is  inquiring  the  way  of  salvation,  and  is 
perplexed  and  anxious,  the  attention  ought  to  be  kept  to  the 
one  thing  needful.  And  it  is  wonderful  how  even  a  small 
matter  will  somefimes  turn  away  the  mind  from  vital  con- 
cerns. The  least  touch  on  the  rein  will  turn  a  horse  in  full 
speed  from  his  course.  And  so  when  the  mind  is  acting 
with  the  intensity  which  religious  excitement  produces,  a 
little  thing  even  will  sometimes  put  it  very  far  wrong.  I  do 
deliberately  believe  that  Presbyterianism,  in  doctrine  and 
discipline,  more  fully  accords  with  the  Bible,  than  any  other 

*  To  enable  the  reader  to  understand,  and  appreciate  the  spirit  of 
this  letter,  it  is  proper  to  state  that  Mr.  A.  to  whom  it  is  addressed  (now 
a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  the  active  agent  of  the  Virginia  Bible 
Society,)  was,  at  that  time,  a  member  of  the  Bar  of  Petersburg,  and  a 
very  zealous  Presbyterian;  and  being  anxious  that  his  younger  brother 
who  had  been  very  seriously  impressed  upon  the  subject  of  religion, 
should  attach  himself  to  the  same  church,  had  written  to  Dr.  Rice,  re- 
questing  him  to  use  his  influence  with  the  youth  for  the  purpose. 

32 


362  MEMOIR     OF 

form  of  religion  in  the  world ;  and  that  a  man  using  his  pri- 
vileges faithfully  as  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
may  do  better  than  he  can  do  in  any  other  connexion  ;  and, 
therefore,  I  should  be  glad  that  all  would  become  Presbyte- 
rians. But  I  also  believe  that  one  may  be  a  member  of  the 
Church  of  Christ,  and  a  good  christian,  without  being  a  Pres- 
byterian ;  and  it  is  really  pleasant,  on  comparing  the  senti- 
ments of  different  denominations,  even  those  which  are 
widest  apart,  to  see  in  how  many  more  points  they  agree, 
than  differ. 

On  this  view,  and  because  it  is  so  important  that  the 
mind  should  be  kept  to  the  great  points  which  enter  into 
the  essence  of  religion,  I  always  deplore  the  agitation 
before  anxious  persons  of  the  questions  which  arise 
between  the  different  churches.  And,  until  the  work  of 
conversion  is  over,  I  advise  inquirers  to  listen  to  nothing  on 
these  subjects  from  any  quarter. 

I  should  be  delighted  to  see  Thomas  a  faithful  minister. 
My  dear  sir,  the  Church  has  no  idea  of  the  want  of  faith- 
ful ministers  which  now  exists.  My  late  journey  has 
brought  this  matter  more  home  to  me  than  it  ever  was.  It 
is  now  the  greatest  want  of  the  world.  Every  thing  goes 
slowly,  and  often  stops  for  the  want  of  men,  holy,  and  de- 
voted, and  numerous  as  they  ought  to  be.     I  hope  J 

S 's  friends  will  give  a  right  direction  to  his  mind. 

He  ought  to  be  a  preacher,     I  have  heard  of  a  fine  young 

man    in   JBrunswick,    named   W ,    who    graduated    at 

Amherst,  and  thinks  of  studying  law.  Cannot  you  find 
him  out,  and  convince  him  that  there  are  more  than  lawyers 

enough?     They  tell  me  B wants  to  be  a  preacher; 

well,  let  him  study  as  well  as  he  can,  and  preach.  The 
liarvest  is  great ;  many  a  field  is  white,  and  the  grain  is 
beaten  down,  and  is  perishing  under  sun  and  storm ;  and 
all  because  labourers  are  needed.  Pray  !  Tell  your  church 
from  me  to  pray ! 

The  Lord  bless  you  and  yours.     My  love  to  all. 

John  H.  Rice. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  363 


TO  THE  REV.  LEONARD  WOODS,  D.  D. 

Union  Theological  Seminary^  Nov.  12th,  1829. 
Rev.  and  Dear  Sir, 

It  was  greatly  my  wish  to  be  at  Albany ;  but  there  were 
several  reasons  which  prevented.  In  the  first  place,  I  can- 
not go  from  here  to  that  city  and  return,  for  less  than  sixty 
five  dollars ;  and  I  am  not  ashamed  to  say,  that  I  am  too 
poor  just  now,  to  expend  that  sum  in  purchasing  even  such 
pleasure  as  I  should  have  enjoyed  in  meeting  my  beloved 
brethren  on  an  occasion  so  interesting.  I  paid  more  than 
fifty  dollars  for  it  last  year,  and  was  obliged  to  set  out  home 
immediately  after  the  first  day's  meeting  of  the  Board. 

But,  in  the  next  place,  by  order  of  our  Board  of  Directors, 
I  was  obliged  to  set  out  the  day  after  our  examination,  to 
North  Carolina,  to  attend  to  the  interests  of  our  Seminary ; 
and  I  could  not  return  until  about  the  24th  of  October. 
It  was  then  my  duty  to  go  to  Presbytery  and  Synod.  I 
have  been  just  a  week  at  home,  nearly  confined  to  my 
house  by  a  bad  cold.  And  what  aggravates  the  case,  we 
have  weather  as  severe,  as,  in  ordinary  seasons,  we  have  at 
Christmas. 

I  have  been  obliged,  too,  to  overwork  myself,  and  begin 
the  present  term,  worn  down  with  excessive  labour.  But  I 
do  not  repine.  It  is  privilege  enough  to  be  permitted  to  do 
the  Lord's  work.  I  only  mention  these  things  to  show- 
why  I  have  been  so  slow  in  answering  your  last  acceptable 
and  affectionate  letter. 

Our  young  men,  Hurd  and  Royall,  returned  highly 
delighted  with  Andover.  I  hope  that  you  were  pleased 
with  their  spirit  and  conduct.  It  is  my  earnest  wish,  that 
our  two  Institutions,  and  all  our  sound  orthodox  Seminaries, 
may  be  bound  together  by  the  cords  of  love.  And  O  !  that 
there  were  a  spirit  of  union  among  all  the  followers  of 
Christ ! 


364  MEMOIR     OF 

But  I  fear  that  the  day  of  perfect  peace,  is  yet  far  distant. 
The  spirit  of  controversy  is  like  to  be  wakened  up  ;  and  we 
shall  see  how  Unitarianism  and  Universalism,  and  other 
heresies,  will  triumph  on  account  of  the  quarrels  of  orthodox 
Christians  !  For  my  part  I  think  it  is  yet  to  be  determined, 
what  will  be  the  result  of  all  the  conflicting  causes  now  ope- 
rating on  the  population  of  this  country.  It  is  a  great  expe- 
riment which  we  are  making  in  this  nation.  Religion  is 
perfectly  free,  and  Popery,  Prelacy,  Unitarianism,  Univer- 
salism, Arminianism,  and  fifty  other  Is^ns,  are  putting  forth 
all  their  strength.  It  is  clear  to  my  mind,  that  in  this  coun- 
try a  great  battle  is  to  be  fouglit.  It  will  be  a  summoning 
up  of  every  man's  energies — and  fearful  will  be  the  conflict. 
To  my  mind  it  seems  inexpressibly  important,  that  they  who 
hold  to  plain  Bible  truth,  and  love  the  cause  of  vital  piety, 
should  be  found  rallied  round  one  standard,  and  united  in 
one  phalanx.  I  do  not  say  that  the  final  issue  depends  on 
this ;  but  I  do  believe  that  it  will  mightily  affect  the  great 
interests  involved  in  the  sacred  contest. 

I  am  much  grieved  at  the  controversy  about  the  American 
Education  Society.  I  do  believe,  however,  that  the  brethren 
on  each  side  are  sincere.  I  do  not  think  that  the  thing  ori- 
ginated in  sectarian  jealousy ;  and  I  hope  that  all  feeling  of 
this  sort  will  be  kept  out  of  the  pieces  that  may  hereafter  be 
written.  In  regard  to  one  point  in  the  recent  plans  of  the 
Society,  I  have  always  had  some  misgivings.  It  is  the  ac- 
cumulation o^  pet'inanent  funds.  I  have  always  thought 
that  permanent  funds  were  inexpedient,  where  they  could  be 
dispensed  with.  In  seminaries  I  think  them  necessary,  but 
in  nothing  else.  And  in  this  respect,  I  apprehend  that  many 
of  the  churches  and  christian  people  will  be  with  the  Prince- 
ton brethren.  But  I  do  not  know.  May  the  Lord  turn  this 
thing  to  his  glory. 

Such  has  been  my  situation  since  last  spring,  that  I  have 
not  been  able  to  look  at  any  thing  beyond  my  immediate  du- 
ties.    I  do  not  yet  know  what  our  brother  Taylor  is  driving 


DOCTOR    RICE.  365 

at.  I  find  it  hard  to  understand  him.  Is  the  fault  in  me  or 
in  him  ?  I  heard  of  your  conference  ;  but  do  not  know  any 
thing  of  the  results.  Did  it  come  to  any  thing  ?  It  is  sel- 
dom that  much  good  results  from  meetings  of  this  kind.  Pray 
let  me  know.  And  tell  me  whether  Dr.  Taylor  accounts 
for  the  fact,  that  every  individual  of  Adam's  posterity  begins 
his  course  of  moral  action  by  sinning,  and  goes  on  to  sin 
until  grace  prevents. 

Mrs.  Rice  and  I  unite  in  dearest  friendship  for  all  your 
family,  and  all  other  friends  at  Andover.  Present  us  to  them 
by  name. 

Most  truly  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Union  Se'niinary,  Jan.  8th,  1830. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

Your  letter  came  to  hand  yesterday.  And  I  want  to  an- 
swer it  while  the  feeling  which  it  excited  is  fresh. 

One  of  the  blessings,  and  one  of  the  sorrows,  which  the 
New  Year  brings  with  it,  is  the  more  than  usually  vivid  re- 
collection of  old  friends.  To  a  man  somewhat  advanced  in 
life,  many  of  the  remembrances  are  very  painful.  Of  all  that 
set  out  in  life  about  the  time  we  did,  how  few  survive  !  Among 
those  who  are  gone,  are  many  of  our  associates,  some  of  our 
dearest  friends,  Avith  whom  we  used  to  take  sweet  counsel 
together.  But  there  are  survivors ;  and  here  and  there  one, 
whose  friendship  has  become  more  consistent,  and  more  solid 
in  the  course  of  years.  This  is  a  season  to  think  of  them, 
and  recal  past  scenes,  and  live  over  again  in  imagination  days 
long  gone  by. 

As  far  as  my  observation  goes,  there  are  two  errors  to 
which  aged  men  are  exposed.  One  is  of  holding  on,  and 
refusing  to  admit  that  they  are  old.  We  have  seen  some 
instances  of  this.  The  other  is  precisely  opposite.  It  is 
allowing  themselves  to  grow  prematurely  old.  Failing  to 
32* 


366  MEMOIR     OF 

exercise  their  faculties,  they  become  rusty,  and  move  like  an 
old  door  whose  hinges  are  never  oiled.  I  have  no  doubt 
about  the  fact,  that  when  the  organs  through  which  the  mind 
acts,  fail,  mental  imbecility  ensues.  But  I  am  equally  cer- 
tain, that  ceasing  to  exert  our  faculties  greatly  impairs  their 
strength.  And  I  am  convinced  that  when  a  man,  whose  life 
has  been  very  active,  retires  ;  he  very  soon  sinks  into  second 
childhood.  It  is  a  dangerous  experiment,  and  I  feel  very 
unwilling  that  you  should  try  it.  The  harvest  is  so  great, 
and  the  labourers  are  so  few,  that  I  think  they  who  have 
borne  the  heat  and  burden  of  the  day,  ought  still  to  go  out 
into  the  field,  and  if  they  can  do  no  more,  hand  food  and 
drink  to  the  young  men  who  are  strong  to  labour,  and  active 
in  working. 

I  perfectly  agree  with  you,  that\  there  is  too  much  bustle 
and  noise  in  our  religious  enterprises.  Too  much  challeng- 
ing and  provoking  and  fighting  the  world.  The  greater 
union  and  co-operation  manifest  now  among  the  enemies  of 
religion  is,  I  believe,  to  a  considerable  extent  owing  to  this 
very  cause.  And  I  do  expect  that  they  will  be  goaded  on, 
until  they  find  that  in  every  trial  of  strength  they  have  an 
overwhelming  majority.  Perhaps  the  discovery  is  already 
made,  and  the  enemies  of  righteousness  are  willing  enough 
to  come  out  to  the  encounter.  If  so,  loe  may  live  to  see  bad 
days  for  the  church.  It  will  require  no  cunning,  no  effort, 
to  divide  the  Christian  host.  That  work  is  done  already. 
And  there  is  nothing  now  to  be  done,  but  to  conquer  the 
sections  in  detail. 

The  great  fault,  it  seems  to  me,  in  this  day  is,  that  chris- 
tians instead  of  going  steadily  and  zealously  forward  to  pro- 
mote true  religion^  and  then  relying  on  its  influences  to  make 
every  thing  work  well,  are  endeavouring  to  conquer  the  men 
of  the  world  by  force.  The  effort  is  not  so  much  to  convert 
them  by  the  means  prescribed  in  the  gospel,  as  to  overpower 
them.     The  weapons  of  their  warfare  are  often  carnal. 

The  Lord  is  prospering  the  Seminary,  thus  far,  beyond 


DOCTOR     RICE.  367 

my  expectation.     1  know  that  you  take  an  interest  in  it,  and 
will  remember  us  in  your  prayers. 

There  has  been  no  breach  in  your  ohl  friends  since  you 
last  heard  from  this  neighbourhood.  Major  Morton  is  very 
healthy  and  very  happy.  He  comes  to  see  me  every  Satur- 
day, and  stays  until  Monday.  We  have  had  thus  far  a  very 
open,  mild  winter — the  weather  generally  very  delightful. 

Mrs.  Rice  unites  with  me  in  love  to  Mrs.  A.  and  in  earnest 
wishes  that  the  Lord  may  bless  you  and  your  family,  this 
year  also. 

Most  truly, 

J.  H.  Rice. 

TO  MR.  KNOWLES  TAYLOR. 

Union  Seminary,  March  2d,  1830. 
My  Dear  Brother, 

I  have  not  written  to  you  a  long  time ;  but  you  are  never 
long  out  of  my  thoughts.  My  spirits  have  not  been  good 
since  Christmas  ;  and  one  reason  is,  that  I  have  had  too 
much  to  do.  Another  is,  that  my  health  has  been  much 
less  firm  than  common  ;  and  for  the  last  six  weeks  I  have 
been  consumed  by  a  slow,  debilitating  fever,  which  has  put 
it  out  of  my  power  to  do  any  thing  at  all.  This  makes  all 
my  work  go  on  very  slowly.  I  have  lately,  however,  had 
some  good  hope  that  I  was  about  to  enjoy  more  health,  and 
better  spirits.  I  do  not  know,  however;  and  it  is  all  just 
as  the  Lord  pleases. 

The  progress  of  our  Seminary  is  good.  We  have  this 
winter  thirty-five  students ;  and  a  very  fine  spirit  of  piety 
among  them.  The  number  of  our  friends,  and  the  influ- 
ence of  our  Institution  is  growing.  I  do  not  think  the  libe- 
rality of  New  York  ever  did  a  better  thing  than  when  it 
gave  us  a  Professorship. 

I  am  sorry  that  the  business  of  Mr.  Bruen's  Library  is  so 
delayed.     It  is  impossible  for  us  to  take  any  decided  and 


368  MEMOIR     OF 

energetic  measures  until  we  know  what  sum  must  be  raised, 
and  for  what  books.  But  this  cannot  be  known  without  a 
catalogue,  and  an  appraisement.  My  wish  is  to  purchase 
the  Library  for  our  Seminary,  and  get  it  all  here  by  the 
time  our  new  building  (for  the  Seminary,)  is  put  up ;  and  I 
wish  the  books  all  to  be  kept  together,  under  the  name  of 
the  Bruen  Library.  T  should  value  it  so  much  the  more, 
because  of  the  beloved  brother,  whose  cherished  memory 
could  thus  be  perpetuated  in  our  Institution. 

I  do  not  like  the  aspect  of  the  religious  world  at  all. 
There  is  a  fearful  spirit  of  infidelity  awake  and  active  in 
the  country.  Popery  is  making  its  destructive  progress. 
High-church  principles  are  growing  in  the  nation.  And  the 
Evangelical  men  are  disputing,  some  for  old  orthodoxy,  and 
others  for  neiv  metaphysics.  The  Church  stands  more  in 
the  way  of  the  Millenium  than  all  the  world. 

I  fear  the  Sabbath  cause  is  losing  ground.  Have  friends 
pursued  the  best  policy  ?  Is  it  wise,  when  we  know  that 
the  world  has  the  majority,  to  push  matters  to  a  vote?  Is 
it  wise  to  push  men  until  they  commit  themselves  against 
the  cause  of  holiness?  I  throw  out  these  questions  for 
your  consideration,  t  confess  that  I  have  my  serious 
doubts.  In  my  weakness  I  write  in  haste,  and  hope  you 
will  excuse  this  poor  scrawl. 

My  love  to  your  wife  and  children;  also,  to  all  friends. 

May  the  Lord  bless  you — pray  for  us. 

Your  brother  in  the  best  bonds. 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  THE    REV.   ARCHIBALD  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 

Union  Semiiiary,  March  9th,  1830. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  was  particularly  gratified  with  your  last  letter.  I  well 
remember  when  we  first  formed  our  acquaintance  at  Hamp- 
den Sydney;  and  I  know  well  that  from  that  day  to  this, 
there  has  been  no  breach  in  our  friendship ;  nor  even  the 


DOCTOR     RICE.  369 

least  unpleasantness  in  our  intercourse — indeed  nothing  un- 
comfortable, except  that  it  has  not  been  so  frequent,  either 
personally,  or  by  writing,  as  I  could  wish.  And  I  gladly 
accept  your  proposition  to  make  it  more  so. 

I  do  from  my  heart  rejoice  that  Addison  has  embraced 
religion — on  his  account — on  that  of  his  parents — their  older 
children — and  the  church.  May  the  Lord  direct  his  way  into 
the  ministry !  His  talents,  his  attainments,  his  opportuni- 
ties of  further  improvement,  warrant  the  hope  that  he  may 
render  the  most  important  service  to  the  cause  of  truth  in  our 
country.  It  appears  to  me,  at  length,  entirely  necessary  that 
there  should  be  a  change  in  our  theological  literature.  I 
have  been  for  some  time  distressed  to  think,  that  so  much  of 
that  which  candidates  for  the  ministry  are  directed  to  study, 
and  which,  in  the  present  state  of  the  world,  must  be  put 
into  their  hands,  should  be  defiled  with  heresy  or  marred 
by  error.  In  this  age,  a  preacher  must,  in  many  cases, 
prove  his  doctrine  by  a  reference  to  the  original  languages  of 
the  Bible.  But  to  enable  him  to  do  that,  he  must  use  lexi- 
cons, which  often  contain  meanings  made  to  suit  a  purpose, 
and  critical  commentators,  who  employ  vast  learning  to  per- 
vert Scripture.  There  is,  too,  a  continual  increase  in  the 
number  of  theological  systems,  which  present  views  of  truth 
of  which  we  cannot  approve.  They  however  are  published, 
and  reviewed,  and  talked  of;  and  young  men  will  have  them. 
The  old  writers  are  thought  to  have  lived  in  times  of  com- 
parative ignorance  ;  and  a  recommendation  of  them  as  guides 
in  a  course  of  theological  study,  is  regarded  as  a  proof  posi- 
tive of  a  deplorable  behindness  in  reference  to  the  march  of 
mind.  In  the  meanwhile,  we  have  a  flood  of  German  books, 
partly  neological,  and  partly  exegetical.  We  have  English 
books,  Arminian  and  superficial.  We  have  metaphysico- 
theology  from  other  sources ;  and  true,  old-fashioned  ortho- 
doxy produces  nothing  but  now  and  then  a  valuable  little 
thing  on  practical  religion.  If  there  should  be  no  change, 
sound  Presbyterian  doctrine  will  be  destroyed  by  the  very 


870  MEMOIR      OF 

books  which  are  brought  into  our  Theological  Seminaries. 
Now,  I  want  Presbyterians  to  form  better  Lexicons,  better 
Commentaries,  better  systems,  and  better  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tories than  any  other  denominations ;  and  so  much  better 
that  the  people  will  be  glad  to  get  them ;  and  even  be  obliged 
to  use  them.  And  I  have  already  allotted  to  Addison  the 
work  of  making  a  Hebrew  Lexicon,  which  shall  displace 
every  other.  I  shall  never  live  to  see  it ;  but  I  do  not  jest 
about  it. 

There  is  indeed  a  storm  raging  against  Presbyterians. 
How  long  it  will  last,  and  how  far  it  may  destroy,  1  pretend 
not  to  conjecture.  It  is  a  genuine  display  of  the  opposition 
of  the  heart  to  religion.  But  I  must  believe  that,  in  many 
cases,  there  has  been  a  provoking  of  opposition  where  there 
was  no  necessity  for  it.  I  fear  that  this  is  very  often  done 
by  ministers  of  the  gospel.  They  often  act  as  though  they 
thought,  that  it  was  a  part  of  ministerial  honesty  to  speak 
the  truth  in  the  most  offensive  form.  And  hence,  many  are 
thrown  off  from  religion  to  a  returnless  distance.  For  my 
own  part,  I  am  more  and  more  convinced  that  in  building  up 
the  church,  more  is  to  be  accomplished  by  the  gentleness  of 
Christ,  than  by  all  other  methods.  If  you  beat  even  a 
christian  in  argument,  unless  at  the  same  time  you  win  him 
by  love,  he  will  be  more  apt  to  go  farther  from  you,  than 
to  come  over  to  your  side.  I  have  lately  thought  that  in  all 
our  seminaries,  we  wanted  special  instructions  for  students 
on  the  duties  of  Christian  prudence. 

But  I  am  wandering  a  little  from   my  subject.     The  tide 

of  prejudice   is   setting  powerfully  against   Presbyterians. 

i  JThis  cannot   be   altogether  prevented.     For  although   our 

I  Istrength  is  overrated,  we  are  strong  enough  to  excite  fear. 

;  lOur  talents  and  learning  are  estimated  too  highly,  yet  we 

have  enough  to  provoke  jealousy.     We  are  thought  to  have 

more  zeal  than  we  have,  yet  even   as  we  are,  the  world  is 

alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  what  we  will  do.  We  are*  thought, 

moreover,  to  be  more  strict  in  our  discipline  than  the  prac- 


I 


DOCTOR      RICB.  371 

tice  of  our  church  proves  us  to  be,  and  the  mohocfacy  of  the 
age  hates  us  because  we  are  not  liberal  enough  to  suit  their 
taste.  In  this  way,  or  somehow  else,  people  of  all  sects, 
and  of  no  sect,  hate  us  ;  and  from  every  quarter  there  is  a 
hideous  outcry  against  us.  Now  I  do  wish  from  my  heart, 
that  all  Presbyterians  would  live  so,  that  "  by  well  doing 
they  should  put  to  silence  the  ignorance  of  foolish  men." 
But  if  among  all  our  enemies,  and  notwithstanding  all  their 
vigilance,  we  have  men  who  are  perpetually  occasioning  of- 
fence, t  do  not  know  what  can  be  done.  I  have  for  a  long 
time  been  of  opinion,  that  it  was  our  true  policy  to  mind  our 
own  business,  and  let  other  things  alone.  Our  business  I 
take  to  be  simply  this — to  be  really  good  christians  ourselves, 
and  try  to  make  as  many  and  as  good  christians  as  possible. 
Had  this,  our  appropriate  work,  always  occupied  our  atten- 
tion, and  all  our  ministers  had  let  alone  presidential  elec- 
tions, and  kept  clear  from  party  contests,  I  think  that  the 
state  of  the  Presbyterian  church  would  have  been  very  dif- 
ferent from  what  it  is. 

I  have  given  this  long,  and  I  fear  tedious  rigmarole,  for 
the  sake  of  proposing  a  question  for  your  consideration. 
Would  it  not  be  well  for  the  next  General  Assembly  to  ap- 
point a  very  wise  and  able  committee  to  prepare  a  pastoral 
letter,  to  the  ministers  and  churches,  giving  earnest  and  affec- 
tionate advice,  suited  to  the  present  times  ?  I  have  thought 
that  some  good  might  be  done  in  this  way. 

Mrs.  Rice  wishes  you  and  Mrs.  A.  to  know,  that  she  re- 
joices with  you  in  Addison's  happy  change;  and   that  she 
joins  me  in  the  kindest  remembrance  of  the  whole  family. 
As  ever,  faithfully  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

About  this  time.  Dr.  Rice  commenced  publishing  a  series 
of  letters  to  the  venerable  James  Madison,  Ex-President  of 
the  United  States,  in  the  Southern  Religious  Telegraph 
(a  weekly  paper  published  by  his  highly  esteemed  friend 


372  MEMOIR     OF 

the  Rev.  A.  Converse,  in  the  city  of  Richmond,)  the  object 
of  which  was  to  show  that  our  politicians  and  patriots  should 
honour  and  favour  the  progress  of  the  christian  religion 
.among  the  people,  on  account  of  its  happy  influence  upon 
lall  the  interests  of  our  country.  He  addressed  them  to  that 
gentleman,  as  he  frankly  stated,  not  only  from  the  respect 
which  he  felt  for  his  public  character,  and  public  services ; 
but  from  the  hope  that  ihe  well-earned  popularity  of  his  name 
would  induce  more  persons  to  read  them ;  and  he  published 
them  anonymously  both  to  enjoy  more  freedom  in  writing 
them,  and,  as  he  hoped,  to  excite  more  interest  in  the  minds 
of  those  for  whose  benefit  they  were  more  particularly  in- 
tended. Indeed  he  took  some  pains,  for  a  time,  to  conceal  his 
connexion  with  them  ;  but  the  trains  of  thought  which  were 
known  to  be  his  favourite  ones,  though  they  were  now  more 
enlarged  and  expanded,  and  the  force  and  perspicuity  of  his 
style,  soon  betrayed  the  hand  of  the  master  that  was  writing 
them. 

The  following  letter  was  written  with  a  view  to  obtain 
some  information  which  he  wished  to  use  in  this  work. 

TO  THE  REV,  FRANCIS  BOWMAN. 

Onion  Semmary,  March  17 tli,  1830. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

For  a  particular  purpose,  I  wish  to  know  some  things  in 
regard  to  which  you  can  possibly  assist  me.  If  you  can,  I 
know  you  will. 

I  have  reason  to  believe  that  between  the  years  of  1776 
and  1784  or  5,  there  was  some  correspondence  between  Mr. 
Jefferson  and  some  members  of  Hanover  Presbytery.  I  am 
pretty  sure  that  I  have  seen  a  letter  from  Dr.  Samuel  Stan- 
hope Smith  to  Mr.  J .  Now  will  it  be  possible  to  as- 
certain the  fact,  and  find  out  ^vhat  is  the  true  nature  of  this 
correspondence  ? 

Moreover,  I  have  understood  that  the  "Act  for  securing 
religious  freedom,"  though  drav/n  up  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  was 


DOCTOR     RICE.  373 

carried  through  the  Legislature  by  Mr.  Madison  in  1784,  or 
1785.  And  I  know  that  Mr.  Madison  was  for  some  years 
in  habits  of  strict  intimacy  with  Dr.  John  B.  Smith ;  and  I 
have  heard  that  they  visited  each  other  and  corresponded. 
Are  any  of  your  friends  in  habits  of  intimacy  with  Mr.  Madi- 
fion,  so  that  you  could  find  out  whether  he  has  any  of  John 
B.  Smith's  letters,  or  S.  S.  Smith's,  or  Dr.  Witherspoon's ; 
and  if  so,  what  are  their  contents  ? 

I  will  tell  you  why  I  make  these  inquiries.  There  is  a 
remarkable  similarity  between  the  sentiments,  and  words 
even,  of  the  act  for  religious  freedom,  and  the  sentiments 
and  words  of  some  other  people  ;  and  I  wish  very  much  to 
trace  the  secret  history  of  that  event  which  separated  church 
and  state  in  Virginia.  I  believe  that  Presbyterians  aided  in 
it  more  than  is  generally  known  ;  and  I  wish,  if  possible,  to 
prove  it. 

As  far  as  I  can  see,  there  is  a  mighty  effort  now  to  dis- 
credit, and,  if  possible,  to  put  down  Presbyterians.  I  sup- 
pose it  is  felt  that  we  are  making  progress.  I  am  not  at  all 
alarmed  at  this  outcry.  I  hope  good  will  come  of  it.  Pres- 
byterians have  a  plain  course  to  pursue  ;  and  if  they  will  let 
every  thing  alone  but  their  own  proper  business,  they  will 
do  well.  Their  proper  business  is  to  endeavour  to  make 
their  fellow  men  good  christians  ;  in  full  confidence  that  if  a 
man  is  a  good  christian,  he  will  be  a  good  citizen,  a  good 
neighbour,  friend,  father,  &c.  I  am  satisfied  that  we  do  not 
generally  confide  enough  in  the  power  of  our  religion  ;  and, 
therefore,  endeavour  to  carry  it  directly  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  many  things  which  had  better  be  let  alone.  Some 
good  men  to  the  North  do  infinite  mischief  by  meddling 
when  it  would  be  best  to  say  nothing. 

I  do  wish  that,  in  the  present  state  of  the  country  particu- 
larly, the  members,  and  especially  the  ministers,  of  our 
church,  might  manifest  the  meekness  and  gentleness  of 
Christ.     And  when  bitter  things  are  said,  let  them  return 

blessings  for  railing. 

33 


874  MEMOIR     OP 

Bishop  Ravenscrofi  is  dead  !  I  am  truly  sorry  to  hear  it. 
I  thought,  and  do  still  think,  that  he  was  greatly  wrong  as 
far  as  his  high-church  notions  went ;  but  I  never  had  a  doubt 
of  his  sincerity  ;  and  I  held  him  in  much  higher  respect  for 
his  frank  and  open  avowal  of  his  sentiments,  than  I  can  feel 
for  those  who  hold  the  same  opinions,  and  yet  endeavour  to 
pass  for  men  of  liberal  minds. 

We  continue  to  grow  at  the  Seminary.  Two  new  stu- 
dents have  lately  arrived ;  and  we  hear  of  others  coming. 
May  we  grow  in  piety  and  wisdom,  as  we  do  in  numbers ! 

I  need  not  say  how  much  I  love  you  and  Harriet,  and  your 
boy.    Nancy  may  perhaps  wish  to  add  a  postscript.    If  not, 
I  can  bear  witness  to  the  strength  of  her  maternal  feelings. 
Most  truly  yours, 

John  H.  Rice. 

TO  MRS.  ANNE  S.  RICE. 

New  York,  May  lOth,  1830. 
My  Beloved, 

I  sat  down  just  now  by  the  fire  in  sister's  little  back  room, 
and  just  as  I  had  taken  up  my  pen  to  address  you,  your  de- 
lightful letter  was  brought  in,  and  it  refreshed  my  heart.  I 
had  a  very  pleasant  ride  to  Washington  with  our  Boston 
friends.  But  I  was  exceedingly  fatigued,  and  a  good  deal 
feverish.  There  I  met  with  two  ministers,  Ross  of  Tennes- 
see, and  Dixon  of  South  Carolina,  coming  on  to  this  place. 
Here  again  I  was  greatly  favoured.  We  came  on  together 
to  Philadelphia,  and  arrived  there  a  little  after  eight  o'clock. 
But  the  morning  boat  was  gone,  and  no  twelve  o'clock  boat 
runs  at  present.  Thus  I  was  stopped  in  Philadelphia  for  the 
day.  But  it  happened  well.  For  I  was  not  in  a  condition 
to  travel.  Coming  to  Richmond,  by  some  roguery  or  care- 
lessness, I  lost  my  dear  old  blue  cloak !  It  became  very 
cold  at  Washington,  and  on  the  passage  from  Baltimore  I 
suffered  severely.  On  arriving  at  Philadelphia,  however,  I 
went  to  G H 's,  where  I  was  treated  as  kindly 


DOCTOR     RICE.  375 

as  could  be,  and  by  keeping  myself  very  tranquil  I  was  greatly 
refreshed.  Next  day  I  came  on  to  New  York,  and  arrived 
at  brother's  about  an  hour  by  sun.  (I  forgot  to  tell  you  that 
I  spent  four  hours  in  Baltimore,  where  I  saw  the  Wirts,  all 
as  loving  as  ever;  also  Nevins,  and  Breckinridge,  very 
affectionate,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed,  of  Marblehead — all 
sent  great  love  to  you.)  Brother  and  Mr.  Taylor  met  me  at 
the  wharf,  and  exclaimed,  '*  where  is  sister?  Where  is  Mrs. 
Rice  ?"  It  was  so  every  where.  And  I  give  you  notice  now, 
that  I  don't  travel  this  way  again  without  you.  My  pride 
won't  let  me  do  that.  Why,  some  go  so  far  as  to  tell  me 
that  they  are  not  glad  to  see  me  at  all ;  and  nothing  is  more 
common  than  to  hear,  "  I  am  very  sorry  to  see  you  without 
Mrs.  Rice.     I  have  just  one  plain  reply  to  that :  ^^  I  am 

sorrier  than  you  are,''     Mrs.  T proposes  to  send 

for  you  right  away,  and  get  you  here  as  soon  as  possible. 

On  Sabbath,  I  was  still  indisposed,  and  so  I  staid  in  the 

house  all  day.     In  the  evening,  M B •  came  in  a 

carriage,  and  took  me  to  Murray-street  Church,  where  was 
one  of  the  largest  congregations  I  ever  preached  to  in  my 
life.  House  crowded, — aisles  and  all.  And  there,  with  my 
folly,  I  preached  a  full  hour  and  a  half,  about  all  sorts 
of  things.  I  must  get  sister,  or  K.  Taylor  to  write,  and 
enable  you  to  tell  the  Major  how  I  preached.  You  know 
my  modesty,  or  rather  bashfulness,  will  not  allow  me  to  say 
any  thing  about  my  own  performances,  unless  I  think  tfiem 
mean-)  but  I  will  just  say  to  you,  that  the  people  were  very 
still  and  attentive  all  the  time.  And  as  they  were  going 
out,  one  of  them  in  the  crowd  was  heard  to  say,  "  Old  Vir- 
ginia never  tires."  But  there  was  nothing  in  that,  for  he 
was  a  Virginian  himself. 

Dr.  Woods,  Dr.  Cornelius,  Mrs.  H ,  Mr.  Arm- 
strong, and  many  others,  are  here  from  Boston.,  and  many 
more  are  coming  to  the  anniversaries.  This  will  create 
some  delay ;  but  I  think  it  will  be  better  for  me  to  go  on, 
and  do  what  I  can  among  those  who  remain  in  Boston, 


376  MEMOIR      OF 

and  by  that  time,  they  who  attend  the  anniversaries,  will 
return  home. 

I  am  not  gratified  by  any  thing  which  I  see  in  the  state 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  country,  from  Richmond 
to  New  York.  Every  thing  is  cold  and  dead,  except  the 
spirit  of  controversy.  In  Philadelphia  and  New  York, 
things  are  in  a  dismal  condition.  And,  in  my  opinion,  the 
Lord  is  permitting  opposition  to  rage  against  our  Church 
in  particular,  to  purify  it.  I  fear  that  nothing  but  the  fire  of 
persecution  will  do  the  work.  Oh  1  how  calm  and  peaceful 
every  thing  at  the  South  is,  compared  with  the  rivalry  and 
contention  which  exist  here. 

Give  my  love  to  all  at  Wilhngton,  and  all  at  Col.  Bur- 
well's.  Remember  me  particularly  to  any  of  the  young 
men  at  the  Seminary — I  mean  those  who  are  in  our  house ; 
if  at  home,  &c." 

He  continued  writing  his  Letters  to  Mr.  Madison  during  the 
summer,  as  his  leisure  allowed ;  and  also  a  memoir  of  his  de- 
ceased friend  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Taylor,  which  he  had  undertaken 
to  prepare  at  the  request  of  the  young  evangelist's  brother  j 
and,  notwithstanding  his  arduous  labours  in  this  way,  and  about 
the  Seminary,  seemed  to  enjoy  an  unusual  portion  of  health. 
Indeed,  at  the  commencement  of  the  college,  which  took  place 
about  the  20th  of  September,  he  appeared  so  well,  and  in 
such  fine  spirits,  that  he  received  the  warm  congratulations 
of  many  of  his  friends  who  had  come  from  a  distance  on  this 
occasion,  and  who  were  fondly  flattering  themselves  that 
they  would  enjoy  his  services,  and  his  society  for  many 
years.  Immediately  afterwards,  the  Board  of  the  Seminary 
met,  and  he  attended  its  sessions,  and  aided  it  in  its  labours 
with  his  usual  spirit.  Anxious,  however,  to  finish  his  col- 
lections at  the  North,  he  was  obliged  to  leave  them  before 
they  had  closed  their  business,  and,  (accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Rice,)  he  repaired  to  Richmond,  and  proceeded  thence  by  Bal- 
timore and  Philadelphia  to  New  York.     There  he  stayed  a 


t 


DOCTOR     RICE.  377 

day  or  two  with  his  brother,  (who  was  now  pastor  of  the 
Pearl  Street  Church  in  that  city,)  and  afterwards  hastened 
up  the  river  to  visit  the  small  towns  on  its  banks.  The 
weather,  however,  proved  very  unfavourable  to  his  progress, 
and  the  heavy  rains  which  fell  compelled  him  to  stop  for 
some  days  in  Hudson,  where  he  had  the  misfortune  to  con- 
tract a  severe  and  distressing  cold,  which  fastened  itself  upon 
his  lung^,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  disease  which  was 
to  destroy  his  life. 

Returning  thence  to  New  York,  he  stayed  there  a  short 
time,  suffering  much  from  soreness  in  his  breast,  and  inflam- 
mation about  his  throat  and  face,  but  still  pressing  on  in  his 
engagement,  from  which  nothing  could  divert  him. 

From  New  York  he  proceeded  with  Mrs.  R.  to  Philadel- 
phia, calling  by  the  way  at  Princeton  to  see  (for  the  last 
time  on  earth)  the  beloved  and  long-cherished  friend  of  his 
youth.  Dr.  Alexander,  in  whose  society  he  seemed  to  forget 
his  indisposition,  and  himself,  and  every  thing  but  the  great 
cause  in  which  he  was  engaged.  In  the  city,  however,  he 
appeared  to  feel  his  increasing  disease  with  new  pressure, 
and  went  about  his  work  with  evident  labour  and  pain.  His 
spirits,  too,  obviously  flagged,  in  spite  of  all  the  soothing  at- 
tentions of  his  kind  host  and  hostess,  and  other  friends  ;  and 
his  mind  appeared  to  be  oppressed  with  the  most  melancho- 
ly forebodings.  Still  he  seemed  to  struggle  with  his  malady, 
and  went  about  among  the  brethren,  but  beyond  his  strength, 
and  with  increasing  difficulty,  until  he  was  taken  one  even- 
ing, while  at  prayer  with  the  family  in  which  he  was  stay- 
ing, with  a  distressing  sensation  of  something  like  suffoca- 
tion, which  he  at  first  thought  proceeded  from  some  affec- 
tion of  the  heart,  but  which  was  more  probably  one  of  those 
painful  strictures  which  continued  to  increase  upon  him  (with 
some  intervals)  to  the  end  of  his  life.  After  some  time, 
however,  he  obtained  relief  from  it,  and  left  Philadelphia  the 
next  morning,  in  the  steam  boat  for  Baltimore.  From  that 
city,  after  spending  the  night  with  his  friend  Mr.  Wirt,  he 
33* 


378  MEMOIROF  ' 

proceeded  to  Norfolk,  where  he  took  leave  of  another  friend  \ 
whom  he  loved,  but  who  could  not  detain  him,  as  he  was 
pressed  in  spirit,  (suffering  as  he  was,)  to  spend  the  ensu- 
ing Sabbath  with  his  own  people  in  Richmond.  He  did  so 
accordingly,  preaching  to  his  flock  both  parts  of  the  day, 
with  great  earnestness  and  warm  affection,  for  the  last  time. 

The  next  morning,  he  set  off  with  his  wife,  in  his  own 
small  carriage,  for  the  Seminary,  where  he  arrived  safely  the 
next  day,  and  immediately  applied  himself  with  great  dili- 
gence to  the  duties  of  his  professorship,  in  which  indeed  he 
seemed  to  find  some  relief  from  his  pains ;  although  his  dis- 
ease was  still  hanging  upon  him,  and  feeding  in  secret 
upon  his  frame. 

In  this  state  of  body,  however,  his  mind  appeared  to  be 
even  more  vigorous  than  ever,  and  the  following  letter,  which 
he  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Boston,  whom  he  very  highly  es- 
teemed, (and  who  has  since  followed  him  to  the  Upper  Sanc- 
tuary,) will  show  with  what  kind  of  thoughts  it  was  teeming 
at  the  time. 

TO  THE  REV.  B.   B.   WISNER,  D.  D. 

Union  Seminary,  Nov.  22d,  1828. 
My  Dear  Friend  and  Brother, 

I  should  have  been  truly  glad  could  I  have  visited  Boston 
in  October.  But  our  vacation  took  place  so  late  in  the  sea- 
son, that  I  could  not  reach  your  good  city  in  time  to  attend 
the  meeting  of  the  American  Board,  and  that  being  the  case, 
no  duty  compelled  me  to  go  further  eastward.  The  self-in- 
dulgence I  could  not  afford. 

But  I  feel  that  I  want  to  have  a  long  talk  with  you.  Many 
things  are  now  brewing  in  my  mind,  even  to  effervescence, 
and  as  I  am  just  running  over,  I  have  seized  my  goose  quill 
conduit,  to  direct  the  stream  into  your  bosom. 

This  is  the  most  wonderful  year  in  which  we  have  ever  lived. 
Where  will  the  overturnings  end,  which  we  now  see  begin- 
ning?    Heaven  grant  that  they  may  result  in  the  coming  of 


DOCTOR     RICE.  379 

Him  "  whose  right  it  is  to  reign."  I  do  believe  that  the  pre- 
sent is  a  crisis  in  the  affairs  of  human  nature.  It  is  the  age  of 
Revolutions,  succeeding  the  age  of  the  Reformation.  The 
Lord  is  pulling  down  old  establishments,  and  overturning 
deep  laid  foundations  of  spiritual  tyranny.  He  is  disenthral- 
ing the  mind  of  man,  and  opening  a  way  for  the  universal  dif- 
fusion of  the  Bible,  and  sending  the  heralds  of  mercy  to  all 
lands.  In  a  word,  he  is  making  opportunities,  and  waiting 
to  see  how  the  church  will  improve  them.  The  Reforma- 
tion was  a  crisis.  Men's  minds  were  mightily  stirred  up, 
and  a  great  opportunity  was  afforded  them,  for  setting  the 
world  at  liberty  from  every  yoke  but  the  '*  easy"  one  of  the 
Redeemer.  In  some  respects  that  opportunity  was  nobly 
improved.  But  the  Reformers  committed  some  capital  mis- 
takes. It  seems  to  me  that  the  two  principal  were  :  1.  Dis- 
trust in  Providence,  and  dependence  on  kings  and  princes 
to  protect  the  church  and  sustain  the  truth.  This  brought 
religion  again  into  alliance  with  the  world,  and  it  was  cor- 
rupted. 2.  The  Spirit  of  Controversy  which  rose  up,  and 
raged,  aud  divided  the  Protestant  world  into  fiercely  contend- 
ing factions.  This  flame  burned  up  the  Spirit  of  Piety ;  and 
these  divisions  frittered  away  the  strength  of  the  church,  and 
marred  its  glory  in  the  presence  of  Papists,  Mahometans,  and 
heathens.  That  golden  opportunity  was  lost,  and  religion 
on  the  whole  made  very  little  progress  for  three  centuries. 
Look  at  Germany,  look  at  Switzerland,  at  Protestant  France, 
at  England,  at  Scotland,  and  say  whether  there  is  as  much 
religion  now,  as  there  was  in  1580. 

It  has  occurred  to  me  most  painfully,  that  the  present  op- 
portunity may  pass  without  suitable  improvement ;  and  the 
church  sink  down  into  a  torpor  to  continue  for  ages : 
while  the  Spirit  of  Infidelity  shall  go  through  the  world, 
breathing  all  its  pestilence,  and  inflicting  its  plagues,  tenfold 
more  terrible  than  those  of  Egypt.  But  if  so,  no  arithmetic 
can  calculate  the  amount  of  guilt  which  will  rest  on  the 
church. 


380  MEMOIR     OP 

In  making  this  remark,  I  assume  as  true  the  proposition, 
that  when  individuals,  or  associations,  have  opportunity  to  do 
good,  and  do  it  not,  they  are  guilty  of  great  sin.  If  we  can 
save  life,  and  do  not  save  it,  we  kill.  (See  Mark  iii.  4.)  It  is 
so  of  the  souls  of  men,  as  well  as  of  their  bodies.  O  how 
fearful  is  the  responsibility  now  resting  on  the  church  !  How 
great  the  need  of  wisdom  and  holy  love  ! 

But  yet  I  cannot  perceive  that  any  branch  of  the  church,  or 
any  leading  individuals  are  awakened  up  by  the  spirit  stir- 
ring events  of  which  every  day  brings  us  the  tidings.  We 
are  all  standing  with  the  gaze  of  astonishment,  or  we  are 
taking  an  interest  as  politicians  in  the  passing  occurrences, 
as  though  we  had  forgotten  that  we  have  to  do  with  the  affairs 
of  a  kingdom  which  is  not  of  this  world. 

It  does  seem  to  me,  that  the  Devil  has  been  beforehand  with 
the  Church,  and  has  employed  his  cunning  agency  in  bringing 
about  that  very  state  of  things  which  will  prevent  the  united, 
energetic  efforts  of  the  church,  until  the  season  shall  have 
passed  away.  In  regard  to  some  particulars,  some  of  the 
best  friends  of  evangelical  truth  in  our  country  have  been 
looking  to  government,  and  have  become  interested  in  efforts 
to  influence  the  rulers  of  this  world,  until  they  are  entirely 
full  of  matters  and  measures  of  this  kind. 
,  But  the  most  fearful  sign  of  the  present  times,  is  the  rising 
lof  the  spirit  of  controversy  and  disputation,  much  like  that 
which  broke  out  in  the  time  of  the  Reformation.  In  all  the 
strong  parts  of  both  the  Congregational  and  the  Presbyterian 
churches,  we  see  the  existence  of  this  evil ;  and  I  fear  its  in- 
crease. My  last  journey  made  me  sick  at  heart.  Both  in 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  I  was  in  continual  pain  and 
mortification. 

Besides,  I  do  think  that  in  a  year  or  two,  there  has  been  a 
considerable  increase  of  local  and  sectarian  feelings  among 
Congregationalists  and  Presbyterians.  That  these  two  de- 
nominations are  further  apart  than  they  were  some  years 
ago,  is  manifest.    I  thought,  too,  that  during  my  visit  to  Bos- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  381 

^  ton,  I  saw  tokens  of  a  growth  in  the  strength  of  New  JSng- 
\  land  feeling.  Presbyterian  feeling  also  is  considerably 
roused  up.  And  yet  these  denominations  have  in  every  par- 
ticular the  same  enemies  who  are  everlastingly  attacking 
them.  They  have,  moreover,  the  same  responsibilities  to 
the  Head  of  the  Church,  and  about  the  same  duties  to  per- 
form in  converting  the  world. 

There  is  another  view  of  affairs  which  alarms  me.  From 
time  immemorial,  the  world  has  been  governed  by  the  few. 
But  it  seems  as  if  it  would  be  so  no  longer.  The  power  is 
every  where  passing  into  the  hands  of  the  multitude.  They 
feel  this,  and  will  not  be  slow  to  assert  their  privilege,  and 
put  forth  their  strength.  This  would  all  be  well,  if  the 
multitude  were  wise  and  virtuous.  For  nothing  is  more  to 
be  desired  than  that  virtue  and  intelligence  should  govern 
the  affairs  of  mankind.  But  the  infelicity  is,  that  popula- 
tion far  outruns  improvement;  and  the  desire  of  the  people 
to  hold  and  exercise  power  is  awakened  up,  before  educa- 
tion and  moral  discipline  have  prepared  them  for  the  work. 
Instead,  then,  of  a  beautiful  theory  carried  out  into  benefi- 
cial practice,  I  am  afraid  that  we  shall  see  the  rule  of  physi- 
cal force  established  in  the  world.  A  machinery  of  this 
sort  is  liable  to  most  violent  disturbance ;  and  there  is  no 
balance  wheel  to  regulate  the  motion.  Friction,  fire,  and 
terrible  combustion,  is  like  to  be  the  result.  In  other 
words,  the  progress  of  liberty  is  greater  than  that  of  reli- 
gion. But  where  there  is  not  enough  sound,  enlightened 
religion  to  clothe  Law  with  moral  energy,  and  produce  self- 
government  among  the  people,  a  calm,  well  regulated  liberty 
is  out  of  the  question. 

I  regard  the  human  race  as  at  this  moment  standing  on 
the  covered  crater  of  a  volcano,  in  which  elemental  fires 
are  raging  with  the  intensity  of  the  "  Tophet  ordained  of 
old."  Heaven  has  provided  conductors  of  wonderful 
power,  by  which  this  heat  may  be  diffused  as  a  genial 
warmth,  and  a  cheering  light,  tlirough  the  world.     And 


382  MEMOIR      OP 

the  necessary  process  must  be  performed  by  the  Church. 
Otherwise,  there  will  be  an  explosion,  which  will  shatter  to 
pieces  every  fabric  of  human  hope  and  comfort. 

But  let  us  look  at  the  state  of  the  Church.  In  the  United 
States,  we  find  every  thing  much  as  Cotton  Mather  said 
Rhode  Island  was.  If  any  kindred  or  people  under  heaven 
have  lost  their  religion,  they  may  find  it  among  us.  I 
need  not  attempt  an  enumeration  of  denominations.  Among 
Presbyterians  and  Congregationalists,  there  are  no  external 
observances  to  be^substituted  for  true  piety ;  there  is  intelli- 
gence ;  there  is  wealth ;  there  is  the  power  of  true  revivals ; 
there  is  a  free  country,  and  a  growing  population.  There 
is  here  also,  a  nation  held  up  by  Providence  as  a  spectacle, 
and  an  example  to  the  world.  Here  is  a  work  to  be  done, 
which  will  tell  on  the  destinies  of  mankind.  And  we  are 
the  people  to  do  it.  Such  an  opportunity  for  good  has 
perhaps  never  been  afforded  since  the  foundation  of  the 
world.  I  find  no  power  in  language  to  express  the  weight 
of  our  responsibility.  Deep,  deep  will  be  our  guilt,  if  we 
are  found  unprofitable  servants.  But  while  we  are  called, 
as  with  an  archangel's  trumpet,  to  rise  and  shine,  and  let 
the  world  see  our  light;  we  are  dividing,  and  disputing, 
and  strengthening  local  feelings,  and  cherishing  sectarian 
jealousies,  and  letting  sinners  go  to  perdition !  But  what 
can  we  do  ?  In  answer,  I  say,  that  when  men  are  excited 
argument  is  of  no  avail.  Nothing  but  one  strong  feel- 
ing CAN  PUT  DOWN  ANOTHER.  Our  learned  Doctors  may 
wear  out  their  pens,  and  put  out  their  eyes,  and  they, 
and  their  partizans,  will  be  of  the  same  opinon  still. 
The  Church  is  not  to  be  purified  by  controversy,  but  by 
holy  love.  And  ignorant  as  many  of  us  are,  and  far  be- 
hind the  discoveries  of  the  day,  by  knowing  Christ  cruci- 
fied, we  know  enough  to  kindle  up  holy  love,  and  to 
make  us  feel  all  its  constraining  influences.  I  have,  there- 
fore, brought  my  mind  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  thing 
most  needed  at  this  present  time  is  a  revival  of  religion 


I 


DOCTOR     RICE.  383 

among  christians,  and  especially  a  larger  increase  of  holi- 
ness among  ministers.  We  had  a  pleasant  meeting  at  the 
last  General  A-ssembly.  On  marking  what  was  done  then, 
I  made  a  vow  to  the  Lord,  that  in  my  poor  way  I  would  do 
what  I  could,  to  have  next  spring  such  a  General  Assembly 
as  never  before  met  on  earth.  I  know  that  this  looks  like 
presumption  in  me.  But  I  hope  that  many  will  aid  by 
prayer,  and  mighty  effort,  in  this  thing.  I  want  some  of 
my  beloved  New  England  friends  to  come  to  Philadelphia, 
just  to  try  to  get  good,  and  to  do  good;  to  come  without 
feeling  that  they  belong  to  New  England,  but  that  they 
belong  to  Christ  and  his  Church ;  not  to  say  one  word 
about  any  matter  in  dispute  among  christians,  but  deter- 
mined to  know  nothing  but  Christ  and  him  crucitied. 
And  I  wish  that  this  meeting  may  be  a  subject  of  much 
prayer,  and  previous  preparation.  We  must  figh  tfire  with 
fire,  and  kindle  such  a  flame  of  divine  love,  that  it  will 
burn  up  every  material  for  unhallowed  fire  to  work  on. 

I  wish,  too,  that  some  plan  might  be  devised  for  kindling 
up  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  the  true  spirit  of  Missions, 
and  rousing  this  great  sluggish  body  from  its  sleep.  Here 
is  a  subject  of  delicacy  and  difficulty.  The  Fresbytenan 
spirit  has  been  so  awakened  up,  that  I  begin  to  apprehend 
that  no  power  of  man  will  ever  bring  the  whole  body  to  unite 
under  what  is  thought  to  be  a  Congregational  Board.  But 
the  church  must  not  be  under  the  guilt  of  letting  souls  perish, 
who  might  be  saved.  What  can  be  done?  Here  we  .want 
wisdom.  I  never  will  do  any  thing  to  injure  the  wisest  and 
best  Missionary  Society  in  the  world,  the  American  Board. 
But  can  no  ingenuity  devise  a  scheme  of  a  Presbyterian 
Branch  of  the  American  Board — co-ordinate — sufficiently 
connected  with  the  General  Assembly  to  satisfy  scrupulous 
Presbyterians,  yet  in  union  with  the  Original  Board — having 
the  same  object,  and  tending  to  the  same  result?  Do  think 
of  this.  Something  must  be  done  ;  but  I  cannot  say  what. 
You  are  the  only  person  in  the  world  to  whom  I  have  men- 


384  MEMOIR    OF 

tioned  this,  and  I  throw  it  out  to  set  your  mind  to  work.  Do 
let  me  hear  from  you  soon. 

Yours  most  cordially, 

John  H.  Rice. 

In  this  state  of  mind  and  feeling,  on  the  second  Sabbath  of 
the  following  month,  he  preached  in  the  neighbouring  church 
to  a  large  and  attentive  congregation,  the  last  sermon  that 
was  ever  to  come  from  his  lips ;  and  with  striking  effect.  I 
have  been  told,  indeed,  by  several  judicious  persons  who 
were  present,  that  it  was  undoubtedly  the  very  best  and 
ablest  discourse  that  they  had  ever  heard  from  him,  and  one 
which,  they  thought,  could  hardly  be  surpassed.  The  sub- 
ject of  it,  it  seems,  was  the  Signs  of  the  Times  ;  and  they 
describe  it  as  presenting  the  most  striking  and  solemn  views 
of  the  mighty  and  magnificent  contest  between  the  Church 
and  the  World,  which  he  saw  (as  it  seemed,)  rapidly  ap- 
proaching, and  almost  at  hand.  At  the  same  time,  they  say, 
his  whole  manner  was  deeply  and  singularly  earnest  and  im- 
pressive, and  there  was  something  in  the  very  tone  of  his 
voice  that  appeared  to  be  of  a  "  higher  mood,"  and  hardly 
belonging  to  the  earth.  The  whole  discourse,  in  fact,  seemed 
to  be  as  it  were  the  warning  voice  of  a  prophet,  and  the  con- 
clusion particularly,  in  which  he  exhorted  his  hearers  to 
come  out  more  visibly  and  palpably  from  the  world,  and 
show  themselves  openly  and  distinctly  on  the  Lord's  side, 
fell  forcibly  on  all  their  hearts. 

Soon  afterwards,  on  the  Wednesday  evening  following, 
his  disease  returned  upon  him  with  new  violence,  and  retir- 
ing to  bed  with  a  distressing  cold,  he  awoke  in  the  night  with 
a  severe  stricture  in  the  throat,  and  great  soreness  in  his 
breast,  and  immediately  sent  off  for  his  friend.  Dr.  Mettauer, 
who  soon  came,  and  bled  him,  and  gave  him  a  dose  of  calo- 
mel, which  relieved  him  from  his  paroxysm  for  the  time. 
The  disease,  however,  still  continued  upon  him,  and  con- 
fined him,  for  the  most  part,  to  his  bed  from  which  he  sel- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  385 

dom  rose,  and  hardly  ever  to  leave  the  room.  In  general, 
indeed,  he  suffered  no  great  pain,  but  complained  only  of  a 
dull  aching  sensation  in  the  left  side.  At  times,  however, 
he  had  severe  fits  of  nervous  distress,  during  which  he 
appeared  to  have  lost  all  his  powers  and  faculties ;  but  his 
eye  still  beamed  with  even  more  than  its  usual  brightness, 
and  his  pulse  continued  strong. 

At  this  time,  the  physicians  who  attended  him.  Dr.  Mor- 
ton, Dr.  Mettauer,  and  Dr.  Farrar,  and  who  vied  with  each 
other  in  their  kind  and  assiduous  services  to  him,  did  not 
apprehend  that  he  was  in  any  immediate  danger,  nor  indeed 
that  his  disease  was  likely  to  prove  fatal.  His  old  precep- 
tor, too.  Dr.  Wilson,  came  to  see  him  occasionally,  and  en- 
couragingly said,  "  he  will  come  out  with  the  butterflies" — 
in  the  spring.  He  had  himself,  however,  it  seems,  from  the 
first,  a  strong  presentiment  that  his  sickness  was  unto  death  ; 
but  he  was  fully  prepared  for  the  event,  and  ready  for  all  the 
will  of  God.  Indeed,  he  seldom  spoke  of  himself;  but 
seemed  to  consider  himself  as  nothing,  and  gave  all  his  at- 
tention (as  long  as  he  could  attend  to  any  thing,)  to  the 
Seminary,  and  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  which  was  always  in 
his  heart.  In  this  spirit,  he  continued  to  prescribe  and  direct 
the  studies  of  the  young  men  under  his  care,  through  his  at- 
tentive and  devoted  assistant,  Mr.  Ballantine,  who  came  regu- 
larly to  his  bed  side  for  his  directions  about  the  studies  of  the 
pupils,  and  by  whose  hand,  and  that  of  Mrs.  Rice,  he  con- 
tinued to  write  such  letters  as  he  found  necessary,  or  thought 
might  be  useful.  Among  these,  I  find  the  following,  which 
displays  his  zeal  for  the  cause  of  popular  education  in  a  very 
lively  manner. 

TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ,. 

Union  Seminary,  Jan.  7th,  1831. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  was  in  bad  health  when  I  met  you  in  Philadelphia,  and 
continued  unwell  until  about  twenty  days  ago,  when  I  was 

34 


MEMOIR     OP 

taken  violently  sick.  Since  that  time,  T  have  been  confined 
to  bed  where  I  am  now  dictating  this  letter  to  a  young  friend. 
Uncertain  of  course  of  the  issue  of  the  disease,  and  separated 
from  many  of  the  objects  of  customary  influence,  I  have 
thought  much  of  those  whom  I  love,  and  with  whom  I  have 
in  times  past  taken  sweet  counsel.  The  remembrance  of 
no  one  has  more  frequently  recurred  than  of  yourself. 

You  are  now  occupying  a  situation  in  which  I  have  long 
wished  to  see  you.  Your  entrance  into  the  councils  of  the 
slate  at  the  present  juncture,  is  very  opportune  ;  and  I  exceed- 
ingly rejoice  that  you  were  brought  in  entirely  in  consist- 
ence with  your  principles.  It  gave  me  particular  pleasure, 
too,  to  understand  that  you  were  a  member  of  the  committee 
for  Schools  and  Colleges.  Knowing  how  you  appreciate 
sound  education,  I  do  hope  that  you  will  be  enabled  to  exert 
a  highly  beneficial  influence  on  that  all-important  interest. 
It  would  be  worse  than  useless  for  me  to  undertake  to  stim- 
ulate your  zeal  in  regard  to  this  subject,  or  suggest  the  ur- 
gency with  which  the  signs  of  the  times  call  attention  to  it. 
I  am  incapable  in  present  circumstances  of  ofl'ering  any  ge- 
neral observations  worthy  of  attention  ;  but  there  is  one  par- 
ticular topic  which  I  wish  to  present  to  your  consideration. 
I  am  most  fully  persuaded  that  none  of  us  have  any  adequate 
idea  of  the  extent  of  the  deficiency  of  common  education  in . 
Virginia.  In  the  county  of  Prince  Edward,  where  this  sub- 
ject is  perhaps  as  well  attended  to  as  in  any  other  county  in 
the  state,  there  are  some  where  about  one  thousand  four 
hundred  persons  between  five  and  fifteen  years  of  age,  that 
is,  persons  whose  education  ought  to  have  commenced,  but 
yet  cannot  be  considered  as  complete.  Now  nearly  forty- 
five  schools  at  an  average  of  thirty  scholars  each,  are  neces- 
sary for  this  county.  But  after  all  my  inquiries  I  cannot 
learn  that  there  are  as  many  as  eighteen  schools  with  thirty 
scholars  each.  So  that  in  Prince  Edward  some  where  about 
eight  or  nine  hundred  children  are  not  obtaining  any  thing 
like  a  suitable  education.     Making  every  allowance  for  in- 


DOCTOR     RICE.  387 

accuracy,  how  alarming  is  the  result.  Inquiries  which  I 
have  made  on  this  subject,  have  enabled  me  to  account  for 
most  painful  facts,  which  on  unquestionable  authority,  have 
been  reported  to  me  respecting  the  astonishing  number  of 
citizens,  young  and  old,  unable  to  write  or  read.  Now  it 
seems  to  me  obvious  that  in  order  to  provide  an  adequate 
remedy,  we  must  know  the  extent  of  the  evil.  And  I  would 
propose  whether  some  measure  might  not  be  adopted  to  ob- 
lain  the  annual  statistics  of  common  education.  Might  not 
the  Commissioners  of  the  Revenue,  when  taking  every  year 
ihe  list  of  taxable  property,  be  required  by  law  to  ascertain 
the  number  of  children  going  to  school  in  each  county  ?  My 
object  is  in  some  way  or  other  to  collect  facts  which  will 
enable  the  wise  men  of  the  state  to  ascertain  what  must  be 
done  for  the  extension  and  proper  support  of  primary  schools. 
But  I  can  only  throw  out  these  hints,  assured  that  you  Avili 
make  use  of  them  as  far  as  they  are  of  any  real  value. 

Although  my  disease  is  greatly  mitigated,  and  the  doctors 
entertain  hope  of  a  speedy  recovery,  I  find  that  my  strength 
is  M'eakness,  and  I  am  obliged  to  conclude  with  assurances 
tliat,  in  sickness  and  in  health, 

I  am  truly  your  friend. 

John  H.  Rice. 

Some  time  in  the  following  month,  he  received  a  letter 
from  his  friend,  Dr.  Alexander,  condoling  with  him  in  his 
itHicted  state,  and  telling  him,  among  other  things,  that  pub- 
lic prayers  were  offered  up  in  the  Seminary  at  Princeton  for 
his  recovery;  which  seemed  to  affect  him  greatly,  for  a  while. 
But  he  soon  turned  his  thoughts  away  from  his  own  state  to 
that  of  the  church,  which  was  always  uppermost  in  his  heart; 
and,  deeply  impressed  with  the  conviction  which  he  now 
felt  more  strongly  than  ever,  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  in  this  country,  as  such,  to  move  forward 
with  her  whole  weight  and  power,  in  the  cause  of  Foreign 
Missions,  he  dictated  to  his  amanuensis  as  he  lay  upon  his 


388  MEMOIR     OF 

bed,  the  following  Project  of  an  Overture  to  be  laid  before 
the  General  Assemby  at  its  ensuing  session,  and  which  he 
caused  to  be  forwarded  to  his  friend.  Professor  Hodge,  of  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  with  a  request  that  he 
would  lay  it  before  the  other  Professors  also,  for  considera- 
tion and  advice.* 

Project  of  an  Overture  to  be  submitted  to  the  next  General 
Assembly. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  of  North 
America,  in  organizing  their  form  of  Government,  and  in 
repeated  declarations  made  through  their  Representatives  in 
after  times,  have  solemnly  recognized  the  importance  of  the 
Missionary  cause,  and  their  obligation  as  Christians,  to  pro- 
mote it  by  all  the  means  in  their  power.  But  these  various 
acknowledgments  have  not  gone  to  the  full  extent  of  the  ob- 
ligation imposed  by  the  Head  of  the  Church,  nor  have  they 
produced  exertions  at  all  corresponding  thereto.  Indeed  in 
the  judgment  of  this  General  Assembly,  one  primary  and 

*  The  paper  was  forwarded  to  Professor  H.  by  Dr.  R's  assistant  with 
a  note  in  these  words : 

Union  Seminaryy  March  4th,  1831. 
Dear  Sir, 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Rice  had  the  above  Overture,  which  he  indited  while 
lying  on  his  sick-bed,  copied  upon  a  large  sheet,  intending  when  Pro- 
vidence should  restore  his  health,  to  occupy  the  blank  space,  in  laying 
before  you  more  at  large,  his  views  and  feelings  on  the  subject  which 
the  overture  presents.  But  tliere  is  no  prospect  of  his  being  soon  at 
least  able  to  write,  and  the  time  of  the  assembly  draws  near.  He  is 
therefore  compelled  to  send  you  the  article  as  it  is.  He  wishes  you  to 
submit  it  also  to  the  other  Professors  of  your  Seminary,  and  desires  a 
communication  of  your  views  with  regard  to  it.  His  health  does  not 
sensibly  improve.  He  is  confined  entirely  to  his  bed.  The  physicians 
do  not  appear  however  to  anticipate  a  fatal  result. 
Respectfully, 

K  BALLANTINE,  Amanuensis. 

Rev.  Prop.  Hodge. 


DOCTORRICE.  389 

principal  object  of  the  institution  of  the  Church  by  Jesus 
Christ  was,  not  so  much  the  salvation  of  individual  Chris- 
tians,— for,  "  he  that  believeth  in  the  Lord  Jesu-s  Christ  shall 
be  saved" — but  the  communicating  of  the  blessing  of  the 
Gospel  to  the  destitute  with  the  efficiency  of  united  effort. 
The  entire  history  of  the  Christian  Societies  organized  by 
the  Apostles  affords  abundant  evidence  that  they  so  under- 
stood the  design  of  their  INIaster.  They  received  from  Him 
a  command  to  "  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature" — and 
from  the  Churches  planted  by  them,  the  word  of  the  Lord 
was  "sounded  out,"  through  all  parts  of  the  civilized  world. 
Nor  did  the  missionary  spirit  of  the  primitive  Churches  ex- 
pire, until  they  had  become  secularized  and  corrupted  by 
another  spirit.  And  it  is  the  decided  belief  of  this  Gene- 
ral Assembly  that  a  true  revival  of  religion  in  any  denomina- 
tion of  Christians,  -vvill  generally,  if  not  universally,  be 
marked  by  an  increased  sense  of  obligation  to  execute  the 
commission  which  Christ  gave  to  the  Apostles. 

The  General  Assembly  would  therefore,  in  the  most  pub- 
lic and  solemn  manner,  express  their  shame  and  sorrow  that 
the  Church  represented  by  them  has  done,  comparatively,  so 
little  to  make  known  the  saving  health  of  the  Gospel  to  all 
nations.  At  the  same  time,  they  would  express  their  grate- 
ful sense  of  the  goodness  of  the  Lord,  in  employing  the 
instrumentality  of  others  to  send  salvation  to  the  heathen. 
Particularly  would  they  rejoice  at  the  Divine  favour  mani- 
fested to  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions,  whose  perseverance,  whose  prudence,  whose  skill, 
in  conducting  this  most  important  interest,  merit  the  praise, 
and  excite  the  joy  of  all  the  Churches. 

With  an  earnest  desire  therefore,  to  co-operate  with  this 
noble  Institution;  to  fulfil,  in  some  part  at  least,  their  own 
obligations  ;  and  to  answer  the  just  expectations  of  the  friends 
of  Christ  in  other  denominations,  and  in  other  countries  ;  in 
obedience  also  to  what  is  believed  to  be  the  command  of 
Christ;  be  it  therefore  Resolved^ 

34* 


390  MEMOIR      OF 

1.  That  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  is 
a  Missionary  Society;  the  object  of  which  is  to  aid  in  the 
conversion  of  the  world ;  and  that  every  member  of  the 
Church  is  a  member  for  life  of  said  Society,  and  bound  in 
maintenance  of  his  Christian  character,  to  do  all  in  his  power 
for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object. 

2.  That  the  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  connection  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  are  hereby  most  solemnly  required 
to  present  this  subject  to  the  members  of  their  respective 
congregations,  using  every  effort  to  make  them  feel  their  ob- 
ligations, and  to  induce  them  to  contribute  according  to  their 
ability. 

3.  That  a  Committee  of be  appointed  from  year  to 

year  by  the  General  Assembly,  to  be  designated,  "  The 
Committee  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States 
for  Foreign  Missions,"  to  whose  management  this  whole 
concern  shall  be  confided,  with  directions  to  report  all  their 
transactions  to  the  Churches. 

4.  The  Committee  shall  have  power  to  appoint  a  Chair- 
man, Corresponding  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  other  neces- 
sary officers. 

5.  The  Committee  shall,  as  far  as  the  nature  of  the  case 
will  admit,  be  co-ordinate  with  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions,  and  shall  correspond  and 
co-operate  with  that  Association,  in  every  possible  way,  for 
the  accomplishment  of  the  great  objects  which  it  has  in 
view. 

6.  In  as  much  as  numbers  belonging  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  have  already,  to  some  extent,  acknowledged  their 
obligations,  and  have  been  accustomed,  from  year  to  year,  to 
contribute  to  the  funds  of  the  American  Board,  and  others 
-may  hereafter  prefer  to  give  that  destination  to  their  contri- 
butions; and  inasmuch  as.  the  Genergil  Assembly,  so  far 
from  wishing  to  limit  or  impede  the  operations  of  that  Board, 
is  earnestly  desirous  that  they  may  be  enlarged.  t,o,  the  greatest 
possible  extent;  it  is  therefore  to  be  distinctly  understood. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  391 

that  all  individuals,  Congregations,  or  Missionary  Associa- 
tions, are  at  liberty  to  send  their  contributions  either  to  the  / 
American  Board,  or  to  the  Committee  for  Foreign  Missions  j 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  as  to  the  contributors  may  ap- 
pear most  likely  to  advance  the  great  object  of  the  conver- 
sion of  the  world. 

7.  That  every  Church  Session  be  authorized  to  receive 
contributions ;  and  be  directed  to  state  in  their  annual  reports 
to  the  Presbytery,  distinctly,  the  amount  contributed  by  their 
respective  Churches  for  Foreign  Missions  :  and  that  it  be 
earnestly  recommended  to  all  Church  Sessions,  in  hereafter 
admitting  new  members  to  the  Churches,  distinctly  to  state 
to  candidates  for  admission,  that  if  they  join  the  church,  they 
join  a  community,  the  object  of  which  is  the  conversion  of 
the  heathen  world,  and  to  impress  on  their  minds  a  deep 
sense  of  their  obligation  as  redeemed  sinners,  to  co-operate 
in  the  accomplishment  of  the  great  object  of  Christ's  mission 
to  the  world." 

A  noble  "project,"  indeed;  and  worthy  to  be,  as  it  was, 
(in  a  sense,)  the  last  public  act  of  such  a  man  I* 

Some  time  afterwards  in  this  month,  there  was  a  four 
days'  meeting  held  at  the  Brick  Church,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  Seminary,  when  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Stanton, 
Armistead,  White,  and  others,  preached  in  demonstration  of 
the  Spirit;  and  many  persons  were  suddenly  and  strikingly 
awakened,  convinced,  and  converted  to  God.  Among  these, 
not  a  few  ascribed  their  first  impressions  of  religion  to  Dr. 
Rice's  faithful  preaching,  and  the  news  of  one,  and  another, 
and  another,  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  salvation  through  Jesus 
Christ,  carried  to  him  as  he  lay  on  his  bed,  filled  his  heart 

*  I  may  add  here,  that  the  measure  recommended  In  this  overture, 
was  adopted  (in  substance,)  by  the  last  General  Assembly,  whose  act 
upon  this  subject  deserves  the  cordial  support  of  every  member  of  the 
Church  throughout  the  country. 


392  MEMOIR     OF 

with  unspeakable  joy.  "Amazing — astonishing!"  said  he, 
and  "  O !  that  I  could  aid  the  triumph  with  ray  voice  !— 
But  the  Lord's  will  be  done  I"  He  seemed  indeed  to  think, 
for  the  moment,  that  this  was  a  beginning  of  the  gadiering 
of  the  Lord's  host  for  the  coming  conflict  of  the  Church,  to 
which  he  had  alluded  in  his  last  sermon ;  and  the  fact  that 
two  of  his  attending  physicians,  and  several  of  his  con- 
nexions and  friends  were  among  the  converts,  filled  him 
with  inexpressible  delight. 

Animated  and  excited  by  these  events,  he  now  seemed 
occasionally  to  feel  a  cheerful  hope  that  he  should  recover, 
and  said  more  than  once,  "  When  I  get  well,  I  shall  have  a 
new  lesson  to  give  my  pupils.  At  least,  I  shall  give  them 
an  old  one  with  new  emphasis;  and  it^s  this, — that  they 
must  never  let  their  zeal  for  active  service  run  away  with 
their  private  devotions."  In  general,  however j  he  was  still 
persuaded  that  his  disease  was  mortal,  and  when  his  friends 
expressed  their  hopes  that  he  would  rally  again,  he  said, 
"No,  it  cannot  be;  I  feel  an  iron  hand  upon  me  that  is 
crushing  me  to  death.  I  cannot  escape  from  it.  I  have  a 
secret  malady  that  my  physicians,  with  all  their  skill  and 
kindness,  cannot  find  out;  and  it  must  carry  me  ofi"  at 
last." 

Still,  as  the  spring  advanced,  he  seemed  to  gain  a  Utile 
strength ;  and  his  brother-in-law,  Dr.  Morton,  had  a  small 
hand  carriage  made  for  him,  with  an  arm-chair  placed  on  it, 
and,  lifting  him  out  of  his  bed  from  which  he  could  no  lon- 
ger rise  without  help,  either  he,  or  Mr.  Ballantine  would 
draw  him  out  occasionally  into  the  garden,  where  he  might 
see  the  trees  and  flowers  which  he  had  planted  with  his  own 
hand  to  adorn  the  ground ;  but  the  sight  of  them  now  only 
filled  him  with  distress,  and  he  was  soon  glad  to  confine 
himself  again  to  his  room,  and  his  bed.  His  situation,  in- 
deed,  was  now  truly  pitiable.  Without  appetite — without 
taste — yet  full  of  nervous  sensibility,  he  could  not  bear  the 
noise  of  a  pen,  or  even  the  sight  of  a  rose,  which  he  would 


DOCTOR     RICE.  393 

once  have  viewed  with  so  much  pleasure  ;  and  almost  every 
thing  seemed  to  give  him  pain. 

While  in  this  state,  Mr.  Ballantine  read  to  him  one  day, 
from  a  newspaper,  the  death  of  that  eminent  and  excellent 
man  of  God,  the  late  Jeremiah  Evarts,  Secretary  of  the 
j  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  which  af- 
fected him  greatly.  "  Alas  !"  said  he,  "  God  is  taking  away 
the  staff  and  stay  from  Israel.  The  feiv  that  are  left  will 
not  be  regarded,  and  the  many  will  carry  all  before  them. 
Numbers  will  overwhelm  us  at  last." 

Shortly  afterwards,  he  received  a  letter  from  the  late  Mr. 
Cornelius,  whom  he  highly  esteemed,  (and  who  has  since 
followed  him,)  in  which  that  zealous  and  devoted  servant  of 
the  church  endeavoured  to  cheer  him  wath  the  sentiment, 
that  "  every  man  was  immortal  until  his  work  was  done," 
but  he  could  not  bear  to  hear  the  whole  of  it  read. 

He  received,  also,  the  following  letter  from  his  friend  Mr. 
Wirt,  who  had  lately  been  called  to  mourn  for  the  death  of 
his  youngest  daughter,  under  circumstances  well  calculated 
to  affect  him  deeply,  and  who,  having  heard  of  the  protract- 
ed and  alarming  sickness  of  Dr.  Rice,  now  wrote  to  him,  to 
assure  him  of  his  sympathy,  in  the  most  amiable  and  affec- 
tionate manner,  as  follows  ; 

TO  THE  REV.  JOHN  H.  RICE,  D.  D. 

Baltimore,  May  26th,  1831. 
How  are  you,  my  dear  friend  ?  Though  we  have  been  in 
deep  affliction  from  our  ow^n  loss,  my  mind  has  been  often 
wandering  to  you,  with  painful  anxiety  on  account  of  your 
ill  health,  as  described  in  dear  Mrs.  Rice's  letter,  and  now 
we  are  almost  in  despair  from  what  Mrs.  Nevins  has  told  us. 
But  the  Lord  can  still  raise  you  up  to  do  farther  good  among 
us,  if  it  be  his  blessed  will,  and,  if  otherwise,  we  know  that 
ouf  loss  will  be  your  gain.  I  have  thought  from  the  friend- 
ship you  have  always  shown  us,  it  might  be  some  consola- 
tion to  you  to  know  that  the  dispensation  with  which  we 


394  MEMOIR     OF 

have  been  visited  has  not  been  lost  upon  us.  The  selection 
vras  too  significant  not  to  be  understood.  And  although  we 
have  suffered  all  the  anguish  that  parents  can  feel  under 
such  a  bereavement,  we  have  learned  to  bless  and  thank  our 
God,  for  his  mercy  to  her  and  to  us,  in  removing  her  from 
the  storms  and  dangers  of  this  wicked  world,  and  transplant- 
ing our  tender  flower  into  his  own  garden,  and  cutting  the 
strongest  cord  that  bound  us  to  the  earth.  We  have  seen 
her,  almost  visibly,  ascend  to  heaven  before  us,  and  now  feel 
that  we  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  prepare  with  all  our  might, 
under  the  assistance  of  our  God  and  Saviour,  to  follow  her. 
We  know  that  there  is  no  access  to  heaven  but  that  through 
which  she  passed,  the  merits  of  our  Redeemer  ;  and  we  are 
all  seeking  him,  in  sincerity  I  trust,  who  has  promised  that 
if  we  seek  him  properly  he  will  in  no  wise  cast  us  out.  May 
the  Lord  meet  with  us,  and  bless  us  in  his  own  good  way. 
I  know  that  I  deserve  no  such  favour.  God  called  me  in 
my  youth,  and  I  heard  him  for  a  season ;  but  the  infidels  of 
Augusta,  in  Georgia,  were  permitted  to  prevail  over  his 
spirit,  and  to  ridicule  me  out  of  my  religion.  My  Heavenly 
Father  might  then  have  justly  forsaken  me, — but  he  never 
did.  On  the  contrary  his  Spirit  has  always  been  striving 
with  me,  and  maintaining  a  powerful,  and  at  length  a  victorious 
contest,  I  trust,  with  the  world.  All  unworthy  as  I  know  I 
am,  and  an  object  of  offence  to  a  pure  and  holy  God,  yet  I 
know  the  all-sufficiency  of  my  Redeemer's  blood  to  purify 
and  cleanse  me,  and  present  me  an  acceptable  offering  be- 
fore his  Father's  throne.  My  beloved  wife  and  children  are 
all  looking  to  Heaven,  and  seeking  preparation  for  a  fit  en- 
trance there  ;  not  se//*  preparation,  which  we  know  is  impos- 
sible, but  "  by  grace,  through  faith,  and  that  not  of  ourselves  ; 
it  is  the  gift  of  God."  And  now,  dear  friend,  if  it  be  the 
will  of  Heaven  that  we  part  in  time,  farewell.  We  know 
not  the  specific  mode  of  existence  and  happiness  in  that  bet- 
ter world ;  whether  departed  spirits  take  cognizance  of  what 
is  passing  on  earth,  or  are  permitted  to  know  or  feel  any 


DOCTOR     RICE.  395 

interest  in  what  their  friends  are  doing  here.  If  they  do,  it 
has  often  occurred  to  me  that  our  darling  who  loved  us  so 
tenderly  here,  might  have  even  the  joys  of  Heaven  enhanced 
by  being  permitted  to  know  that  her  parents,  sisters,  and 
brothers,  are  deriving  their  highest  consolation  from  the  hope 
of  meeting  and  embracing  her  again,  where  all  tears  shall  be 
wiped  away,  and  there  shall  be  no  more  parting  or  sorrow. 
Our  love  and  prayers  are  with  you,  dear  friend  :  may  the 
Almighty  bless  you.  We  desire  to  be  gratefully  and  affec- 
tionately remembered  to  dear  Mrs.  Rice. 

William  Wirt. 

But  this  letter  also,  he  was  unable  to  read,  or  to  hear. 
Indeed,  his  nervous  sensibility  was  now  so  great,  that  he 
could  not  even  bear  the  sight  of  his  books ;  and  the  reading 
of  a  single  verse  in  the  Bible  seemed  to  agitate  his  whole 
frame. 

He  lay  in  this  state  (only  growing  weaker  every  day,) 
until  about  the  beginning  of  July  following,  when  a  change 
took  place  in  the  character  of  his  disease,  and  he  was  at- 
tacked with  a  diarrhcea,  which  soon  exhausted  his  little  re- 
maining strength,  and  reduced  him  so  much,  that  Dr.  Mor- 
ton was  able  to  take  him  up  in  his  arms,  and  carry  him 
from  the  basement-story,  up  stairs,  to  another  room.  Here 
he  lay,  day  after  day,  and  night  after  night,  rather  dying  than 
living;  saying  very  little  to  anyone,  and  apparendy  only 
waiting,  in  silent  submission,  till  his  change  should  come. 

His  relatives  and~friends  had  now  lost  all  hope  of  his  re- 
covery ;  and  about  the  beginning  of  August,  his  beloved  bro- 
ther, the  Rev.  Benjamin  H.  Rice,  came  on  from  New  York, 
with  his  wife  and  daughter,  to  see  him  once  more  before  he 
died.  It  was  evening  when  they  arrived  at  the  Seminary, 
and  Mrs.  Rice,  wishing  to  prepare  him  for  the  interview, 
did  not  immediately  inform  him  that  they  had  come ;  but  he 
seemed  to  divine  it  by  his  own  heart,  and  said,  "  there  is 
some  one  in  the  house,  and  you  are  keeping  it  from  me.     I 


396  MEMOIR     OF 

suspect  it  is  brother  Benjamin;  let  him  come  in."  He 
was  accordingly  brought  in,  with  his  wife,  and  daughter; 
and  Dr.  Rice  took  them  all  affectionately  by  the  hand, 
but  without  saying  a  word.  Shortly  afterwards,  he  said, 
"  It  is  too  much  for  me ;  they  must  leave  me  soon."  They 
staid,  however,  a  fortnight  with  him ;  and  did  all  his  situa- 
tion and  circumstances  permitted,  to  show  their  attachment 
to  the  best  of  brothers,  and  of  men.  But  it  was  at  length 
necessary  for  them  to  depart;  and  when  he  saw  his 
brother  before  him,  as  he  knew  and  felt  for  the  last  time 
on  earth,  he  fixed  his  eye  upon  him  with  unspeakable 
affection,  and  said  faintly,  "God  bless  you;"  when  his 
brother,  overcome  with  his  feelings,  hurried  out  of  the 
room,  and  Mr.  Ballantine  gently  closed  the  door  after  him, 
that  the  voice  of  his  grief  might  not  reach  the  ear  of  his 
suffering  friend. 

Shortly  after  this,  a  small  quantity  of  blood  was  taken  from 
him,  which  seemed  to  check  his  disease,  and  give  him  some 
respite.  At  the  same  time,  his  appetite  increased  a  little, 
which,  with  some  other  symptoms,  made  his  physicians  flat- 
ter themselves  that  his  malady  might  be  about  to  take  a  fa- 
vourable turn  ;  but  this  hope  was  not  realized,  and  he  soon 
grew  sensibly  and  rapidly  worse.  He  complained  now, 
more  and  more,  of  the  stricture  in  his  throat,  which  he  com- 
pared to  a  band  of  leather  drawn  tightly  around  it,  and 
which,  he  said,  would  strangle  him  at  last.  He  had  also 
nervous  spasms  in  his  feet  and  legs ;  his  feet  particularly 
were  often  drawn  up  hard  and  stiff,  and  could  scarcely  be 
bent ;  and  he  required  almost  constant  rubbing  with  the  hand ; 
which  would  sometimes  soothe  him  to  sleep,  and  so  give 
him  a  little  relief  from  pain. 

At  length,  on  Friday  night,  the  2d  of  September,  (1831,) 
after  a  violent  paroxysm,  in  which  he  appeared  to  suffer 
greatly,  he  took  an  anodyne  of  laudanum  which  relieved  his 
pain,  and  he  fell  into  a  gentle  sleep,  which  lasted  through 
tiie  whole  night.     The  next  morning,  however,  as  the  day 


DOCTOR     RICE.  397 

broke,  Mrs.  Rice  who  was  watching  by  him,  saw  a  striking 
change  in  his  countenance — a  ghastly  hue  upon  it — which 
alarmed  her  greatly,  and  calling  in  her  brother,  Dr.  Morton, 
who  was  staying  in  the  house  with  his  patient,  they  tried  to 
rouse  him  from  his  stupor — but  in  vain.  An  hour  afterwards 
he  awoke,  and,  seeming  to  be  sensible  of  his  approaching 
end,  addressed  his  wife,  as  she  sat  by  him,  with  her  head 
leaning  upon  the  bed,  "  I  wish,"  said  he,  feebly,  yet  firmly, 
"  to  see  you,  and  to  assure  you  at  this  hour,"  (as  if  it  were 
his  last,)  "  that  I  love  you  with  unabated  affection.  I  know 
that  the  Lord  will  take  care  of  you,  and  I  trust  you  entirely  to 
Him.  1  cannot  tell  you  where  you  had  best  live;  but  He  will 
provide.  Give  my  love  to  the  Goodriches — to  Ballantine— 
and  to  all  the  students,"  (many  of  whom  had  by  this  time  come 
into  the  room,)  "  and  to  little  Rosa  Kent — may  the  Lord  bless 
her.  And  the  dear  old  Major" — here  Mary  Morton,  the 
daughter  of  his  niece,  Mrs.  Elvira  Morton,  came  in,  when 
he  turned  to  her  and  said,  "  My  dear  Mary,  may  you  be 
blest  of  the  Lord." 

Mrs.  Rice  then  said  to  him,  "  Here  is  your  sister  Sally 
too." 

He  said,  "  My  dear  sister,  don't  weep.  Give  my  love  to 
all  my  relations  in  Bedford — and  especially  to  my  dear 
eldest  sister  Edith." 

Here,  seeing  the  students  who  had  come  in,  and  seeming 
to  think  that  they  were  waiting  to  hear  his  last  words,  he 
said,  "  I  have  no  set  speech  for  this  occasion." 

Doctor  Morton  now  entered  the  room,  v/hen,  addressing 
him,  he  said,  "  I  wish  all  the  world  to  know  how  I  love  you, 
and  what  confidence  I  have  in  you." 

Then  hearing  Mrs.  Goodrich,  his  sister,  and  his  niece 
weeping,  he  said  softly,  *'  Don't  weep  so — you  distress  me." 

At  this,  Mrs.  Rice  said  to  him  "you  see  /do  not  weep." 

"No  !"  said  he,  gazing  on  her  with  unutterable  tenderness, 

"  1  see  you  do  not ;  and  I  hope  you  will  be  sustained  to  the 

last  minute." 

35 


393  MEMOIR      OF 

Yet  his  hour  was  not  quite  come ;  but  he  lingered  through 
the  whole  day,  apparently  in  great  pain.  Indeed,  he  said 
once,  "  I  feel  as  if  the  wheels  of  my  life  were  going  one  way, 
and  the  axis  of  the  earth  the  other,  and  I  am  breaking  between 
them."  He  complained,  too,  of  great  weariness,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  Oh  that  I  could  rest  for  one  single  moment  1" 
Mrs.  Rice  said  to  him,  "  You  will  soon  have  a  glorious 
rest."     He  answered,  "  Pray  for  me." 

Once  also,  when  he  complained  of  his  sufferings,  she  said, 
"  Can't  you  look  up  to  the  Saviour  ?"  he  replied,  "My 
bodily  agony  is  so  great  that  I  can  look  no  where."  Still, 
his  countenance  was  calm,  his  eye  was  serene,  and  he  was 
wholly  resigned  to  the  will  of  God. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  students  were  coming  in  and  going 
out,  and  friends  from  the  neighbourhood,  among  whom  he 
recognised  President  Gushing,  and  some  others,  all  anxious 
to  hear  or  see  him  for  the  last  time. 

As  the  sun  went  down,  he  grew  evidently  weaker  and 
colder,  and  appeared  to  be  in  great  pain,  when  Mrs.  Rice 
suggested  that  a  little  opium  might  give  him  ease.  He  said, 
"  I  should  be  glad  of  any  thing  that  would."  Doctor  Mor- 
ton then  gave  him  a  little,  which  seemed  to  sooth  him  for  a 
moment.  Still  he  breathed  hardly,  and  no  doubt  suffered  ex- 
tremely ;  but  he  said  nothing,  (probably  engaged  in  silent 
prayer,)  till  about  9  o'clock;  when,  all  at  once,  as  Mrs.  Rice 
was  reclining  on  the  bed,  by  his  side,  and  Mrs.  Goodrich, 
Dr.  Morton,  and  a  number  of  the  students  were  about 
in  the  room,  he  turned  towards  his  wife,  and  throwing  his 
arms  about  her  neck,  and  looking  in  her  face  with  a  clear 
bright  eye,  beaming  with  heavenly  joy,  he  exclaimed, 
"  Mercy  is  triumphant."  As  he  spoke  the  last  word,  how- 
ever, his  voice  fell,  so  that  they  could  not  hear  it  distinct- 
ly, and  Mrs.  Goodrich  asked,  "was  it  great 9^''  Mrs.  Rice 
said,  "  no,  it  was  a  longer  word" — when,  as  it  seemed,  to  an- 
swer their  inquiry,  and  impelled  by  the  energy  of  the  sentiment 
in  his  heart,  he  repeated  the  word — "triumphant" — when 


DOCTOR     RICE.  399 

instantly  his  head  fell — they  all  exclaimed  "  he  is  gone," — 
and  Dr.  Morton  coming  up,  took  down  his  arms  from  about 
his  wife's  neck,  and  straightened  his  body  on  the  bed,  to  give 
him  a  more  easy  position,  when  he  gave  two  or  three  gasps, 
and  expired  without  a  groan. 

So  died  this  admirable  man — crowning  (by  the  grace  of 
his  Master,)  an  eminently  useful  and  honourable  life,  long  la- 
boriously employed,  and  at  last  consumed,  in  promoting  all 
the  best  and  dearest  interests  of  his  fellow  men,  by  a  happy 
and  triumphant  death,  and  ascending,  as  we  believe,  in  the 
spirit,  to  reap  the  reward  of  all  his  toils  upon  earth,  by  "  an 
abundant  entrance  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord." 

In  contemplating  the  character  of  Dr.  Rice,  as  exhibited 
in  his  life,  in  all  its  bearings,  and  more  particularly  in  its  as- 
pect and  influence  upon  the  movements  of  the  church,  and, 
of  course,  upon  the  destinies  of  the  country,  I  cannot  but  feel 
that  to  display  it  as  it  deserves,  requires  a  far  abler  hand  than 
n^iine  ;  and  I  gladly  avail  myself,  accordingly,  of  that  of  Doc- 
tor Alexander,  who  could  more  properly  discharge  this  duty, 
and  who  has,  most  obligingly,  favoured  me  with  the  fol- 
lowing just  and  appropriate  tribute  to  the  memory  of  his 
friend. 

"  To  give  a  proper  view  of  the  character  of  Doctor  Rice, 
is,  I  feel,  a  very  difficult  task  ;  for  although  it  would  be  easy 
to  declare,  in  the  general,  that  he  was  a  truly  great  and  ex- 
traordinary man,  yet  to  delineate  correctly  those  trails  of  cha- 
racter by  which  he  was  distinguished,  is  not  easy. 

"  It  was  undoubtedly  one  prominent  characteristic  of  him, 
that  his  views  were  uncommonly  large  and  comprehensive. 
He  felt,  indeed,  as  became  a  man  who  believed  that  he  stood 
related  to  the  whole  human  race,  and  considered  himself  a 
citizen  of  the  world.  No  narrow  horizon  of  sect  or  country, 
circumscribed  his  benevolent  views  and  efforts.  And  in  re- 
lation to  this,  he  furnished  by  his  own  example,  a  proof,  that 
our  love  to  our  own  country,  and  to  our  own  religious  denomi- 


400  MEMOIR     OF 

nation,  is  not  lessened  by  the  exercise  of  a  general  and  expan- 
sive benevolence.  That  Dr.  Rice  was  a  sincere  patriot,  and- 
that  he  was  ardently  attached  to  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
none  can  doubt,  who  had  the  least  acquaintance  with  him. 
But  still  his  benevolent  solicitude  extended  far  beyond  the 
limits  of  his  own  country  and  his  own  church.  The  inter- 
ests of  all  mankind,  and  of  all  branches  of  the  Christian 
church,  were  objects  of  his  regard.  The  scale  on  which  he 
contemplated  men  and  things,  was  as  wide  as  the  world. 
And  not  only  were  his  views  comprehensive,  but  discrimi- 
nating and  profound.  Appearances  which  often  impose  on 
less  sagacious  minds  did  not  deceive  him  :  he  often  appre- 
hended lurking  dangers  of  an  appalling  kind,  where  a  super- 
ficial observer  would  see  nothing  to  create  alarm.  And  as 
he  extended  his  views  to  take  in  the  interests  of  the  whole 
existing  race  of  men,  so  he  carried  them  forward  to  unborn 
posterity ;  and  calculated  the  good  or  evil  which  would  be 
likely  to  arise  to  many  generations  from  the  operation  of  ex- 
isting causes,  or  the  influence  of  particular  plans  and  institu- 
tions. Perhaps,  no  man  in  the  United  States,  had  medita- 
ted more  justly  or  profoundly  on  the  state  of  civil  and  reli- 
gious society,  as  exhibited  in  this  country.  As  a  specimen 
of  his  mode  of  thinking  on  this  interesting  subject,  1  refer 
with  pleasure  to  the  series  of  letters  which  he  addressed  to 
James  Madison,  Esq.,  late  President  of  the  United  States, 
through  the  public  press  ;  and  the  continuance  of  which,  ac- 
cording to  a  plan  which  he  had  sketched  for  himself,  was 
interrupted  by  the  invasion  of  that  fatal  disease  which  ter- 
minated his  useful  life. 

"  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  more  justly  designate  the  true 
character  of  Dr.  Rice  than  by  saying,  that  he  was  influenced 
at  the  same  time,  by  an  ardent  love  of  truth,  and  by  an 
almost  invincible  desire  to  promote  peace  and  unity  among 
all  real  christians.  That  his  general  views  of  evangelical 
doctrine  were  clear  and  sound,  and  conformable  with  the 
adopted  formularies  of  our  church,  will  be  clearly  manifested 


DOCTOR     RICE.  401 

by  a  perusal  of  his  Theological  Lectures,  delivered  to  his 
students,  at  the  Union  Seminary ;  and  which,  though  left 
unfinished,  contain  a  learned  and  thorough  discussion  of 
those  points  which  have  been  most  frequently  disputed, 
and  on  which  all  the  other  parts  of  the  system  of  sacred 
theology  depend.  Accordingly,  no  man  with  whom  I  have 
been  acquainted,  appeared  to  be  more  deeply  grieved  than 
Dr.  Rice,  when  certain  theologians,  fond  of  innovation,  and 
reckless  of  consequences,  came  before  the  public  with  new 
views  in  theology,  which  were  either  logomachies,  or  con- 
tained the  germs  of  some  exploded  heresy. 

"  But  while  he  was  thus  firmly  set  for  the  defence  of  the 
great  cardinal  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  his  zeal  was  not  in- 
discriminate. He  never  was  inclined  to  dispute  about  trifles 
and  metaphysical  subtleties.  Controversy  of  this  kind,  was 
the  object  of  his  sincere  dislike;  and  he  firmly  believed, 
that  in  regard  to  many  points,  on  which  there  has  arisen 
much  warm  and  acrimonious  discussion,  the  only  road  to 
peace  is,  to  relinquish  our  disputatious  spirit,  and  to  confine 
ourselves  to  such  things  as  are  revealed ;  and  to  such  as  are 
clearly  within  the  limit  of  the  human  understanding.  On 
this  general  principle  most  would  agree ;  but  respecting  the 
real  importance  of  many  disputed  points  in  theolog3% 
opinions  are  exceedingly  diverse.  And  I  need  not  con- 
ceal,  that  some  of  Dr.  Rice's  most  intimate  friends  enter- 
tained the  opinion,  that  he  was  disposed  to  extend  this  ex- 
cision of  controversy,  to  more  points  than  was  consistent 
with  a  maintenance  of  the  complete  system  of  sound  doc- 
trine. If  we  should  even  admit,  that  he  pushed  this  prin- 
ciple to  an  extreme,  it  only  shows  how  strongly  his  benevo- 
lent mind  was  inclined  to  promote  peace  among  brethren, 
who  agree  in  all  fundamental  points,  and  who  are  often  in 
fact,  much  nearer  together  in  opinion,  than  on  either  side  is 
supposed.  When  leading  men,  thus  agreeing  in  all  essential 
matters,  entered  into  the  public  arena  of  polemics,  and  con- 
tended before  the  world,  and  to  the  disturbance  of  the  peace 

35^ 


402  MEMOIR     OF 

of  the  church,  it  grieved  him  exceedingly ;  and  he  spared  no 
pains  to  prevent  such  controversies,  or  to  bring  them  to  a  close 
where  they  existed.  And  his  efforts  to  promote  peace  were 
not  altogether  ineffectual.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that 
the  Presbyterian  clergy  of  Virginia,  although  differing  from 
one  another  in  as  many  speculative  points  as  is  common 
elsewhere,  yet  have  managed  so  as  not  to  suffer  these  minor 
differences  to  disturb  their  mutual  harmony,  or  to  be  agi- 
tatell  as  matters  of  controversy  before  the  churches.  This 
has  been  owing  very  much  to  the  governing  influence  of  an 
ardent  love  of  peace,  in  such  men  as  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Hoge, 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Rice,  and  others  of  a  like  spirit. 

"Our  friend,  when  quite  young,  brought  himself  into  no- 
tice before  the  representatives  of  the  Presbyteries,  met  in 
General  Assembly,  in  Philadelphia,  by  a  discourse  which 
he  delivered  at  the  opening  of  that  judicatory,  at  the  request 
of  his  esteemed  friend,  the  Rev.  Drury  Lacy,  who  had  been 
the  moderator  of  the  preceding  year,  but  was  prevented  from 
performing  this  duty.  This  sermon  proved  to  be  a  most 
seasonable  one ;  for  the  two  parties  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  at  that  time,  seemed  ready  to  come  to  an  open  rup- 
ture. The  discourse  itself  contained  nothing  very  striking 
or  remarkable ;  but  it  was  delivered  with  so  much  of  the 
spirit  of  meek  benevolence,  and  breathed  so  entirely  the  love 
of  peace,  that  it  operated  as  oil  upon  the  troubled  waters. 
From  this  time.  Dr.  Rice  became  a  favourite  with  the  public : 
and  the  reputation  which  he  now  acquired,  he  never  forfeited, 
but  continued  to  increase,  as  long  as  he  lived.  No  man  in 
our  church,  I  believe,  enjoyed,  as  generally,  the  confidence 
of  all  parties.  In  ecclesiastical  bodies  of  which  he  was  a 
member,  his  weight  was  felt,  although  he  was  not  often  upon 
his  feet :  his  voice  was  seldom  heard  in  the  management  of 
common  business  ;  but  on  subjects  of  importance  he  was 
sometimes  eloquent. 

*'  There  was,  perhaps,  no  one  thing  connected  with  the 
church  militant,  to  which  Dr.  Rice  uniformly  manifested 


^ 


DOCTOR     RICE.  403 

Stronger  opposition,  than  ecclesiastical  tyranny  ;  or  the  at- 
tempt in  clergymen  to  lord  it  over  the  consciences  of  their 
fellow  christians.  The  love  of  liberty  led  him  specially  to 
oppose  what  are  called  high  church  principles.  This  induced 
him  to  animadvert  with  some  severity  on  some  discourses  of 
bishop  Ravenscroft,  in  which  he  believed  these  principles  to 
be  avowed,  which  led  to  almost  the  only  controversy  in 
which  he  was  ever  engaged.  And  although  he  was  from 
principle  and  disposition  averse  to  controversy  ;  yet  he  made 
it  manifest,  on  this  occasion,  to  all  impartial  judges,  that  few 
men  have  ever  wielded  the  polemic  pen  with  more  adroit- 
ness and  effect.  Perhaps,  nothing  that  he  has  written  evinces 
so  clearly  his  intellectual  superiority,  as  the  review  of  bishop 
Ravenscroft's  virulent  but  injudicious  attack.  It  is  a  speci- 
men not  only  of  Unusual  learning  and  ability,  but  an  example 
of  as  complete  a  triumph  as  has  almost  ever  been  achieved. 
I  speak  not  now  respecting  the  main  points  in  the  Episcopal 
controversy,  which  were  not  the  points  at  issue  between  Dr. 
Rice  and  bishop  Ravenscroft,  but  of  those  high-church  prin- 
ciples which  had  been  assumed  by  the  bishop,  and  of  the 
ungracious  assault  which  he  had  made  on  the  character  of 
his  reviewer.  I  know  that  it  was  with  extreme  reluctance 
that  he  engaged  in  this  contest,  and  not  until  his  friends,  far 
and  near,  assured  him,  that  he  owed  it  both  to  himself  and 
to  the  Presbyterian  church,  to  make  a  reply. 

"  The  deep  and  solid  piety  of  our  highly  esteemed  friend 
was  not  diminished  by  increasing  years  and  multiplied  en- 
gagements ;  but  during  his  latter  years,  every  time  I  saw  him, 
he  gave  fresh  evidence  of  a  state  of  growing  spirituality. 
His  religion  did  not,  as  is  the  case  with  many,  go  and  come 
by  fits  and  starts  ;  it  took  deep  root  downward,  and  brought 
forth  abundant  fruit  upward.  I  never  knew  a  man  of  more 
perfect  sincerity.  He  was  never,  even  by  feeling,  transport- 
ed to  assume  a  character  or  exhibit  an  appearance  which  did 
not  correspond  with  his  habitual  principles.  There  was  in 
his  looks  and  manner,  both  in  public  and  private,  a  peculiar 


404  MEMOIR      OF 

expression  of  benignity,  which  will  be  remembered  by  all 
who  knew  him  ;  but  which  was  especially  manifested  to 
those  with  whom  he  was  most  intimate.  Of  the  disinterest- 
ed character  of  his  friendships,  I  could  furnish  many  con- 
vincing proofs,  but  this  would  be  removing  the  veil  from  a 
subject  not  proper  to  be  brought  before  the  public. 

"  I  will  only  add,  that  if  we  judge  of  the  character  of  Dr. 
Rice  by  the  unerring  rule  of  our  Lord,  '  By  their  fruits,  ye 
shall  know  them,'  our  estimate  of  him  must  rise  very  high. 
He  was  a  man  of  deeds  rather  than  words.  His  professions 
were  always  modest  and  sober;  but  his  works  were  numer- 
ous and  highly  important.  Of  the  arduous  course  of  study 
which  he  pursued  without  intermission  from  his  earliest 
youth,  I  mean  not  now  to  speak ;  nor,  of  the  useful  occupa- 
tion, in  which  for  years  he  was  faithfully  and  diligently  en- 
gaged, as  an  instructor  of  youth ;  many  of  whom,  now  fil- 
ling important  stations  in  society,  no  doubt  remember  him 
with  gratitude.  Neither  do  I  think  it  necessary  to  say  any 
thing  of  his  pastoral  labours  and  difficulties,  while  settled  in 
a  retired  country  congregation ;  where  necessity  required 
him  to  add  the  duties  of  a  preceptor  to  a  select  number  of 
youth,  (boarded  in  his  own  house,)  to  his  pastoral  labours. 
Passing  all  these  scenes  of  early  exertion,  I  will  consider 
Dr.  Rice  as  having  fairly  entered  on  the  scene  of  his  public 
labours,  when  he  engaged  in  the  arduous  enterprise  of  es- 
tablishing a  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  city  of  Richmond, 
where  one  had  never  before  been  organized.  No  one  but 
the  beloved  companion  of  his  life,  and  partner  of  all  his  joys 
and  sorrows,  knows  fully  the  difficulties  and  discouragements 
which  he  had  to  encounter  in  this  work.  But  ultimately, 
success  crowned  his  exertions ;  and  the  flourishing  condi- 
tion of  the  first  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  city,  is  itself  a 
monument  to  his  pious  zeal  and  indefatigable  industry.  That 
church,  which  was  long  feeble,  and  seemed  to  be  struggling 
for  existence,  is  now  one  of  tlie  most  important  in  the  State, 
and  promises  to  be  the  mother  of  numerous  spiritual  chil- 


DOCTOR      RICE.  405 

dren  for  generations  to  come.  While  labouring  as  a  pastor, 
and  encountering  as  many  hardships  and  privations  as  any 
missionary,  the  labours  of  his  pen  alone  were  sufficient  to 
occcupy  the  time,  and  task  the  powers,  of  any  common  man. 
The  Periodical  which  he  established  and  conducted,  exer- 
cised a  most  important  and  salutary  influence  over  the  pub- 
lic mind;  and  though,  occasionally  aided  by  some  of  his 
brethren,  yet  the  incalculable  labour  of  providing  materials 
every  month  for  this  publication,  fell  almost  entirely  upon 
himself.  The  volumes  of  '  Trie  Virginia  Evangelical 
and  Literary  Magazine,'  continued  for  so  many  years,  fur- 
nish indubitable  evidence  both  of  the  vigour  and  versatility 
of  his  talents;  and  at  the  same  time,  of  the  indefatigable  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  with  which  he  prosecuted  his  work. 
But  in  addition  to  Dr.  Rice's  incessant  labours  as  a  Pastor 
and  Editor,  he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  visit  destitute 
places,  and  to  attend  sacramental  and  protracted  meetings,  to 
which  calls,  he  never  turned  a  deaf  ear  when  it  was  in  his 
power  to  comply  with  them  ;  and  on  these  occasions,  on 
account  of  the  confidence  of  his  brethren  in  him,  and  the 
wishes  of  the  people,  a  much  more  than  equal  share  of  the 
labour  fell  upon  him.  Sometimes  after  long  and  fatiguing 
journeys,  he  would  not  have  time  to  rest  himself  at  home, 
before  he  was  again  called  upon  to  go  abroad,  to  perform 
some  important  service  for  the  church.  In  this  connexion  I 
need  scarcely  mention  the  time  and  labour  necessarily  de- 
manded by  the  judicatories  of  the  church,  on  which  he  made 
it  a  matter  of  conscience  punctually  to  attend  ;  and  w^as 
always  ready  to  aid  in  all  the  business  which  came  before 
them,  in  every  way  that  he  possibly  could,  having  ever  the 
edification  of  the  church  as  his  primary  object. 

"  But  his  last  works  were  the  most  laborious,  and  the  most 
important.  The  founding  of  the  Union  Theological  Semi^ 
nary  was  very  much  the  work  of  one  man,  and  that  man  was 
Dr.  Rice.  When  he  was  called  to  engage  in  this  enterprise, 
the  prospect  of  success  was  exceedingly  gloomy;  and  most 


406  MEMOIR     OF 

of  his  friends  apprehended,  that  under  existing  circumstances, 
the  object  could  not  be  accomplished.  For  a  considerable 
time  the  enterprise  was  an  up-hill  undertaking.  Not  only 
were  funds  to  be  collected,  but  an  interest  in  the  scheme  was 
to  be  created.  The  people,  generally,  were  nidifferent ;  and 
there  existed  no  small  apathy  among  his  clerical  brethren. 
But  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  almost  single  efforts, 
an  institution  of  respectable  character,  and  well  endowed, 
has  risen  up  in  a  country,  where  ministers  are  greatly  needed. 
As  long  as  this  Theological  Seminary  endures,  it  will  remain 
a  monument,  more  honourable,  and,  we  trust,  more  lasting, 
than  marble  or  brass,  of  what  maybe  accomplished  by  the  un- 
tiring labours  of  one  man.  I  need  not  mention  here,  the  fre- 
quent, long,  and  toilsome  journeys  which  he  performed  to  col- 
lect funds  for  the  institution :  these  are  facts  well  known  to 
all;  but  the  far  more  difficult  part  of  the  enterprise  was,  to 
awaken  the  churches  and  the  ministers  from  their  apathy  ; 
and,  especially,  to  conciliate  the  friendship  and  co-operation 
of  such  as  were  inimical  to  the  plan.  But  even  this  he  ac- 
complished by  patient,  firm,  kind,  and  persevering  exertions. 
When  he  began,  only  one  Presbytery  were  concerned  in 
this  instituution  ;  but  by  wise  counsel  and  well  timed  exer- 
tion, two  large  Synods  which  had  never  before  had  any  mu- 
tual intercourse,  were  now  brought  to  unite  cordially  and 
vigorously  in  the  prosecution  of  the  plan.  I  do  confess, 
that  I  was  long  incredulous  about  the  success  of  this  enter- 
prise. I  thought  I  saw  insuperable  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
its  accomplishment ;  although  I  did  every  thing  in  my  power 
to  promote  it;  and,  now,  when  I  see  what  has  been  achiev- 
ed, by  the  labours  of  one  man,  I  am  filled  with  grateful  won- 
der, and  feel  ready  to  exclaim,  "  What  hath  God  wrought?" 
For  we  must  ascribe  all  the  praise  to  Him,  from  whom  all 
good  counsels,  and  all  successful  works  proceed. 

"  I  will  only  add,  that  the  true  secret  of  Dr.  Rice's  suc- 
cess, was  that  his  motives  were  always  pure.  He  had  no 
selfish  and  sinister  ends,  and  this  was  apparent  to  all. 


DOCTOR     RICE.  407 

"And,  finally,  he  trusted  in  God,  and  from  Him  received 
strength  to  labour  and  persevere,  and  also  that  wisdom 
which  is  profitable  to  direct." 

Such  indeed  was  the  character,  and  such  were  the  ser- 
vices, of  this  truly  eminent,  and  now  exalted  man ;  to 
whom,  in  concluding  our  work,  we  may  well  apply  his 
own  words :  "  Scarcely  can  a  spectacle  of  greater  moral 
sublimity  be  presented  to  our  view,  than  that  of  a  man 
who  by  his  genius  and  learning  has  acquired  a  mastery 
over  the  understandings  of  others,  and  by  his  goodness  has 
gained  their  confidence,  swaying  them  to  purposes,  and 
rousing  them  to  the  accomplishment  of  designs,  which  all 
the  truly  good  in  the  universe  approve,  and  which  God 
Almighty  himself  sanctions" — and  rewards. 


I 


APPENDIX. 


NOTES  OF  A  SERMON. 

I  am  indebted  to  Doctor  Speece,  of  Augusta,  for  the  fol- 
lowing notes  of  a  sermon  wliich  (if  circumstances  had  per- 
mitted,) he  would  have  delivered  according  to  appointment, 
before  the  Board  of  the  Seminary,  on  the  occasion  of  Doctor 
Rice's  death ;  and  can  only  regret  that  he  was  prevented  from 
expanding  them  as  he  would  doubtless  have  done  in  the  deli- 
very, in  a  manner  worthy  of  his  subject  and  of  himself. 

Blessed  is  the  man  that  endureth  temptation:  for  when  he  is  tried,  he 
shall  receive  the  crown  of  life  which  the  Lord  hath  promised  to  them 
that  love  him. — James  i.  12. 

"  The  world  deems  those  happy  who  enjoy  the  pleasures 
of  this  life ;  those  who  are  rich,  powerful,  famous.  But 
our  inspired  apostle  decided  very  differently.  Blessed  is 
the  man,  &c. 

We  are  to  consider  the  Christian's  conflict,  his  victory, 
his  reward. 

I.  The  servant  of  God,  ordinarily  goes  through  a  series 
of  temptations,  or  trials  of  his  faith,  patience,  and  integrity. 
His  course  is  indeed  a  conflict.     Take  as  samples, 

1.  Bodily  ills:  sickness,  pain. 

2.  Anxieties  about  obtaining,  about  holding,  and  on  losing 
objects  dear  to  the  heart.  Sympathy  with  friends  in  distress. 
Sorer  afiliclion  from  their  faulty  conduct. 

3.  Personal,  unremitting  contest  for  holiness,  with  the 
world ;  with  Satan ;  and  especially  with  his  own  wayward, 
treacherous  heart,  the  most  dangerous  of  all  his  enemies. 

4.  Anxieties  about  this  wicked  world,  hurrying  to  utter 
destruction;  and  about  the  Church  of  God,  as  to  its  purity, 
peace,  increase. 

II.  The  servant  of  God,  through  grace,  endures  success- 
fully all  these  trials.  He  comes  out  of  them  approved.  Not 
human  philosophy,  but  love  to  God,  his  Father  in  Christ, 
is  the  principle  of  his  strength,  perseverance,  and  victory. ' 
Thus  the  grace  of  God  is  illustriously  manifested  before 
spectators  innumerable,  seen  and  unseen,  and  God  is  glori- 
fied in  every  one  of  his  redeemed  people. 


APPENDIX.  409 

III.  The  servant  of  God  shall  receive,  not  a  fading 
wreath,  but  immortal  life,  glory,  and  happiness;  not  as  a 
matter  of  just  claim,  in  whole  or  in  part,  but  as  the  crown 
of  victory  which  God  has  graciously  promised  him. 

Such  a  conflict,  substantially,  has  been  maintained,  and  is 
now  happily  consummated  by  our  brother  and  friend.  Dr. 
Rice ;  and  that  under  some  more  than  ordinary  amount  of 
responsibilities  to  God,  the  Church,  and  the  world.  We 
can  only  touch  the  prominent  features  of  his  character. 

1.  He  was  a  man  of  sincere  and  devoted  piety ;  of  which, 
notwithstanding  the  infirmities  which  cleave  to  the  best  of 
mortals,  we  have  as  ample  evidence  as  man  can  give  to 
man.  He  consecrated  a  mind  rich  in  genius,  and  furnished 
with  large  acquisitions  of  knowledge,  to  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  good  of  mankind. 

2.  As  a  preacher ;  though  his  organs  of  speech  did  not 
admit  of  a  fluent  and  fascinating  delivery,  his  matter  was 
luminous  and  weighty ;  and  his  manner  frequently,  at  least, 
was  uncommonly  solemn  and  impressive.  In  writing,  he 
excelled  others  still  more :  he  was  the  most  accomplished 
writer  in  our  Synod. 

3.  He  was  a  very  zealous  friend  to  general  education 
and  human  improvement.  He  laboured  much  in  this  noble 
cause. 

He  was  a  powerful  advocate  of  pure,  Protestant,  christian 
liberty ;  strenuously  resisting  all  usurpation  upon  the  rights 
of  private  judgment  in  matters  of  religion.  Urged,  contrary 
to  his  wishes,  into  controversy  on  this  subject,  it  was  here 
that  he  put  forth  the  utmost  energy  of  his  talents  and 
learning. 

5.  He  distinguished  himself,  among  many  brethren  of  the 
same  spirit,  as  an  able  advocate  for  an  enlightened,  able  min- 
istry in  the  church  of  Christ.  He  was  from  the  first,  the 
principal  founder  of  this  Theological  Seminary  ;  and  conti- 
nued through  his  life  to  serve  its  interests  more  than  any 
other  individual.  May  his  sentiments  on  the  great  subject  of 
qualifications  for  the  holy  ministry  be  remembered  and  re- 
garded as  they  deserve  to  be. 

Let  the  mourning  relict  of  Dr.  Rice,  and  all  his  friends, 
console  themselves  with  the  assurance  that  he  is  gone  to 
heaven ;  and  subordinately,  that  he  has  left  an  honourable 
name,  long  to  be  borne  in  mind  by  many  within  and  with- 
out  Virginia,  his  native  land. 

36 


410  APPENDIX. 


LETTER  FROM  DOCTOR  WOODS. 

I  have  been  favoured  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Woods,  of  Andover^ 
with  the  following  affectionate  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Dr. 
Rice  ;  which  will  be  read  with  interest  by  all  who  read  this 
book. 


TO  WILLIAM  MAXWELL,  ESQ,. 

Hieological  Seminary^  ^^ndover,  Oct.  SOth,  1832. 
Dear  Sir, 

I  rejoice  that  a  biography  of  our  beloved  Dr.  Rice  is  to  be 
published,  and  that  the  work  of  preparing  it  has  fallen  into 
your  hands.  It  must,  I  am  sure,  be  a  source  of  improve- 
ment to  you,  as  well  as  of  pleasure,  to  survey  the  bright  ex- 
ample of  such  a  man,  and  trace  out  the  attributes  of  his  char- 
acter, and  the  variety  of  ways  in  which  his  distinguished 
powers  were  employed  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  and  the 
world. 

You  ask  for  my  recollections  of  Dr.  Rice.  But,  my  dear 
sir,  they  are  too  many  to  be  recounted,  and  all  delightful, 
except  the  recollection  of  his  lamented  death.  I  began  to 
respect  and  love  him,  and  to  correspond  with  him,  before  I 
saw  him.  Subsequently  to  our  personal  acquaintance,  our 
correspondence  was,  as  you  suggest  in  your  letter,  of  the 
most  affectionate  kind.  The  pacific  and  benevolent  spirit 
which  breathed  in  a  sermon  of  his  before  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  was  the  first  thing  which 
gave  me  an  insight  into  his  heart.  After  that  time,  and 
especially  after  he  entered  on  his  favourite  plan  of  establish- 
ing a  Theological  Seminary  in  Virginia,  he  visited  me  often, 
and  disclosed  to  me  all  his  views  and  plans,  his  difficulties, 
his  hopes,  and  his  fears.  The  recollection  of  those  visits 
will  ever  be  dear  to  my  heart.  He  was  a  man  whom  I  could 
not  but  love  ardently.  Such  was  his  excellence  of  character, 
both  intellectual  and  moral,  and  yet  he  was  so  unpretending; 
iie  united  such  humility  and  meekness  and  gentleness  with 
?uch  real  greatness,  that  he  gained  one's  whole  heart.  I 
often  recall  his  visits  which  were  rendered  doubly  delightful 
by  the  company  of  his  beloved  wife.  I  dwell  in  pleasing 
remembrance  on  his  conversation,  which  always  displayed 
intelligence,  and  vivacity,  and  the  steady  glow  of  friendship 
and  piety;  and  on  his  prayers,  which  exhibited  every  mark  of 
sincerity  and  devout  fervour,  and  were  always  touching  to  my 


APPENDIX.  411 

feelings.  Such  was  my  confidence  in  his  piety,  that  I  was 
led  to  seek  opportunities  to  join  with  him  in  prayer  more 
frequently  than  is  common.  One  such  opportunity  several 
years  ago,  I  recollect  with  particular  satisfaction.  It  was  at 
the  installation  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bardwell,  after  his  return  from 
India.  My  dear  brother  Rice  and  I  were  soon  to  separate, 
and,  as  we  supposed,  for  a  long  time.  Shortly  after  the  pub- 
lic solemnities  were  closed,  we  left  the  crowd  for  a  while, 
and  sought  a  retired  place  in  ahttle  upper  room,  where,  with 
tenderness  and  tears,  he  poured  out  the  fulness  of  his  heart 
in  prayer  to  God. 

The  attributes  of  Dr.  Rice's  mind  were  all  adapted  to  use- 
fulness. His  understanding  was  lucid  and  strong,  and  well 
furnished  ;  his  imagination  prolific,  but  under  just  restraints  ; 
his  taste  delicate,  his  judgment  sound.  The  powers  and 
habits  of  his  mind,  and  his  acquisitions,  were  remarkably 
well  balanced,  and  in  good  proportion  :  nothing  excessive, 
nothing  manifestly  deficient.  He  was  pre-eminently  fitted 
to  take  the  lead  in  the  establishment  and  instruction  of 
that  Seminary,  which  was  so  dear  an  object  of  his  aflfections, 
and  in  which  he  had  the  best  prospect  of  growing  success 
had  his  life  and  health  been  continued.  He  had  some  quali- 
fications of  special  value,  as  a  teacher  of  Theology  to  young 
men  preparing  for  the  ministry.  His  reasoning  powers 
were  active  and  bold,  but  were  uniformly  directed  to  their 
proper  objects,  and  kept  within  their  proper  limits.  He  was 
as  far  as  the  east  is  from  the  west,  from  whatever  savoured 
of  a  sectarian  spirit,  or  tended  to  foment  division  in  the 
church.  His  heart  sickened  at  the  thought  of  unchristian 
strife  among  the  ministers  and  followers  of  Jesus. 

He  enjoyed  the  blessedness  of  being  a. peace  maker.  He 
had  no  dreams  in  religion,  no  favourite  opinions,  except  in- 
deed the  pure  doctrines  of  revelation.  He  had  no  erratic 
notions,  no  singular  phrases,  no  whims, — no,  not  one.  I 
never  knew  a  man  who  had  more  zeal  for  the  great  truths  of 
the  gospel,  or  less  zeal  for  unessential  matters,  or  less  bitter- 
ness against  those  who,  in  such  matters  differed  from  him. 
I  never  knew  a  man  who  showed  less  selfishness,  or  a  more 
pure,  disinterested  attachment  to  the  cause  of  the  church. 
Oh  that  God  would  raise  up  many  like  him! 

But  our  dear  brother  had  one  fault,  of  which  I  took  the 
liberty  often  and  most  solicitously  to  warn  him,  though,  alas, 
with  but  little  effect.  It  was  a  great  fault,  and  was  probably 
the  occasion  of  his  usefulness  being  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  life. 
He  was  urged  on  by  such  ardour  of  soul  to  do  good,  and 


412  APPENDIX. 

especially  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  his  beloved  Seminary, 
that  he  was  too  little  mindful  of  the  importance  of  guarding 
against  excessive  and  exhausting  labours  ;  the  importance  of 
taking  care  of  his  health,  and  using  the  necessary  means  of 
prolonging  his  useful  life.  This  is  the  fault  of  many ;  and 
unhappily  it  is  a  fault  which  frequently  cuts  short  the  labours 
and  the  life  of  those  whose  life  and  labours  are  most  impor- 
tant to  the  church. 

There  have  been  but  few  instances  in  which  the  decease 
of  a  christian  minister  has  occasioned  sorrow  so  deep  and 
lasting,  as  I  have  felt  in  this  case.  But  the  Lord  liveth,  and 
will  raise  up  others  of  like  spirit  with  our  departed  friend,  to 
bless  the  church,  and  to  adorn  the  sacred  office. 

I  am  glad,  my  dear  sir,  that  your  letter  has  given  me  an 
opportunity  to  tell  you,  though  in  haste,  how  I  loved  my 
brother  Rice,  and  however  deeply  I  mourn  his  tieparture.  I 
would  not  forget  to  utter  the  memory  of  God's  great  good- 
ness, in  continuing  his  precious  life  and  eminent  usefulness 
so  long,  and  in  giving  me  the  happiness  of  enjoying  his 
friendship. 

Wishing  that  you  may  be  divinely  assisted  to  accomplish 
in  the  best  manner,  the  good  work  you  have  undertaken,  I 
am,  dear  sir,  with  great  respect  and  affection, 
Your  friend  and  servant, 

Leonabd  Woods. 


THE    END. 


StAL   BOOKBINDING   CO. 

mm2       0£i5  ''^  GQ44 


DATE  DUE 


••RINTEO  IN  U.S.A. 


